All international and domestic airports in Nigeria currently lack functional WiFi services for arriving and departing passengers, LEADERSHIP has learnt.
In today’s global aviation environment, reliable internet connectivity is considered a basic passenger facilitation tool, particularly at international gateways where travellers often need to connect with family members, business associates or coordinate onward travel arrangements. For first-time visitors, access to WiFi is often the first point of communication upon arrival.
Recognising its importance, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development allocated N800 million in the 2026 budget to provide WiFi services at the country’s five international airports and selected domestic terminals.
The affected airports include the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport and Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
However, visits to airports in neighbouring West African countries such as Ghana, Togo and Abidjan show that functional internet services are readily available to passengers, a sharp contrast to the situation in Nigeria.
Last week, telecom operator MTN Nigeria announced the launch of free WiFi services at the Lagos and Abuja international airports. Despite this, checks by LEADERSHIP revealed that the service is currently not operational.
A visit to Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport, where the service was launched last week, showed that the MTN WiFi network was not working at the time of inspection.
Industry stakeholders have expressed concern about the continued lack of functional Wi-Fi services, describing it as a critical passenger facilitation and communication tool.
They pointed out that poor or non-existent airport Wi-Fi was partly due to technical, bureaucratic, and funding challenges, outdated equipment, unreliable power supply, unclear responsibility between agencies (like Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), and no clear mechanism to maintain the service
The general secretary of the Aviation Round Table Initiative (ARTI), Olumide Ohunayo, said the WiFi service is meant for passengers, not airport staff.
According to him, the lack of functional WiFi could be traced to inter-agency rivalry between the FAAN and NAMA.
“What has stopped the provision of an effective Wi-Fi system in the past has been the back and forth between NAMA and FAAN over who should have control or provide that service.
“NAMA itself is working on legacy telecommunication equipment in its control, which serves as the basis for providers to service effectively and at the same time, FAAN as the airport owner has done what should be within their purview.
“Also, technology has moved beyond just using those cables of the past and these services do not need the cables of the past
But just modern technology driven by innovations and optics.
“It’s not a luxury service but a necessity to improve travel communication and the status of the airport for passengers because the idea of Wi-Fi in the airport is not for airport staff or those working in the airport but for passengers that fly into these airports as a means of communication and improving the general vision ecosystem of the communication of the passengers.”
Ohunayo further stressed that WiFi is central to an efficient airport system.
“Wi-fi helps with facilitations to and within the airport. I think if you want to increase passenger throughput into the airport and encourage passengers coming and going, there must be a way to communicate, and I think it’s a good project.
“Also, I hope this will be the last time I will be hearing about wi-fi at the international airport. It is important, it is necessary, and it is part of an effective and efficient travel architectural process within the airport,” Ohunayo stated.
Also speaking is an aviation security expert, Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) argued that non-aeronautical services such as WiFi should be concessioned to allow government agencies to focus on core aviation responsibilities.
“Wifi is a non-Aeronautical Service, and this is why I am saying daily that the airport’s terminal buildings are non-Aeronautical Services that should be given out for concession so the government can face its necessary obligations on Aeronautical Services to the international community and the Nigerian citizens.”
Capt. Ojikutu, who is also the chief executive officer of Centurion Security and Safety Consult, added that the service is purely commercial and for passenger convenience.
“This is for passengers’ convenience and not the airport’s safety or the security agencies’ responsibility to the passengers and obligations to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Primarily, WiFi service is a commercial service like the shopping mall, restaurant, toilet,” he stated.
On his part, Capt. Muhammed Gbadamasi (rtd) expressed disappointment that in 2026, no Nigerian international airport can boast of functional WiFi services.
He called for an investigation into funds allocated for the project.
“Sadly, a significant amount of money has been wasted for no good reason. It’s also a shame that in 2026, no airport in the country can boast of having a single airport with efficient, functional WiFi. It’s a failure of the airport management teams.
“If so much money has been spent to provide WiFi services to the airports. To my mind, I think that the contract for the provision of this service should be investigated.”
Capt. Gbadamasi, a former chief pilot of the defunct ADC Airlines, stressed the need for professionalism in deployment.
“A WiFi network that can cover a large number of people, like the airport, is provided by a professional fibre cable service provider and not quacks. If anything other than this is what is obtained, those involved must be prosecuted,” he stated.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said it recovered equipment allegedly capable of tapping conversations and sensitive security documents from the Abuja home of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
The commission also said it obtained a legal order from a Magistrate Court in Bwari in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to detain el-Rufai for 14 days, which is due to expire on Thursday.
It denied allegations of arbitrary detention and repression of the former governor.
The commission has asked the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory to dismiss el-Rufai’s application alleging violation of his fundamental human rights.
ICPC said the former governor has corruption allegations to answer, including questions over the whereabouts of €1.4 million; 180 suspicious payments totalling N2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State’s IGR account; and transfers to undisclosed accounts amounting to N428,122,180.18, among others.
The commission confirmed that an aide of the former governor, allegedly linked to the matter, has left the country.
ICPC made the claims in an affidavit deposed to by a Litigation Officer, David Efuk, before the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, where el-Rufai is seeking redress and release from detention.
The commission said all the suspected items were retrieved in the presence of the former governor’s wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed.
The agency also alleged that the former governor declined to cooperate with investigators, opting to remain silent until he is brought before a court.
It added that an aide of the former minister linked to the investigation had escaped from the country.
The anti-graft body made the claims in processes filed before the court, seeking the dismissal of the fundamental human rights enforcement suit.
ICPC said: “On the 18th day of February, 2026, at about 7 pm, the applicant was released to the DSS by the EFCC to be handed over to the commission.
“On the 19th day of February, 2026, the commission obtained a remand order to keep the applicant in its custody for 14 days, which will lapse on the 5th day of March, 2026.
“The commission has since confronted the applicant with the retrieved documents during its preliminary investigation activities, but the applicant has refused to respond to interviews to date.
“On the 19th day of February, 2026, the commission executed a duly signed search warrant on the premises of the applicant at No. 12 Mambila Street, Aso Drive, Asokoro District, Abuja.
“During the search, which was witnessed by the applicant’s wife, Hadiza Isma el-Rufai, and his son, Hon. Mohammed Bello el-Rufai, the commission retrieved sensitive security documents capable of compromising national security.
“The applicant, on national television (Arise Television), admitted to tapping telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“During the search operations, the commission retrieved electronic magnetic equipment allegedly capable of tapping conversations.
“He was asked to give consent to enable the commission access the equipment, but he refused. A copy of the consent form is attached and marked Exhibit ICPC 5.
“The search also retrieved sensitive security documents of various security agencies of the government.
“The applicant is also allegedly threatening likely prosecution witnesses, and one such witness has written to the commission seeking protection. A copy of the letter is attached and marked Exhibit ICPC 6.”
The ICPC insisted that el-Rufai was lawfully detained pursuant to a remand order issued by a Magistrate Court in Bwari, FCT.
It said the court granted the commission 14 days to keep him in custody to enable it conduct investigations.
It said: “Contrary to the depositions of the applicant in his supporting affidavit, he is lawfully held in the custody of the commission, and the commission has not breached any of his fundamental rights as claimed.
“ICPC does not arbitrarily arrest or detain suspects unlawfully, nor pose any physical danger to them.
“ICPC’s mandate is to investigate cases of corruption, abuse of office and related offences, and where there is prima facie evidence, prosecute alleged offenders.
“ICPC can only charge a person to court when investigations are concluded.
“Where investigation is ongoing, ICPC may request an alleged offender to report to its office daily until investigations are concluded or, where necessary, remand the alleged offender pending conclusion of investigations.
“ICPC undertakes to draw up charges against the applicant before the 5th of March, 2026, when the detention order will lapse.
“It is in the interest of justice to dismiss his application for lacking merit and allow the commission to investigate the allegations thoroughly in the public interest.”
ICPC said it followed due process in inviting el-Rufai based on a petition alleging corrupt practices.
It said: “The commission received a petition against the applicant, a former two-term Governor of Kaduna State.
“Thereafter, the commission began preliminary investigations into the allegations contained in the petition and retrieved relevant documents from banks and other government institutions.
“Upon conclusion of preliminary investigations, the commission made several efforts to invite the applicant to confront him with documents retrieved during the investigation.
“Every attempt to invite the applicant via formal letters proved abortive.
“On the 5th day of February, 2026, the commission received information about the applicant’s arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“Operatives of the Department of State Services were contacted to assist in arresting him, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
“The commission later located the applicant’s residence at Aso Drive, Abuja, and formally served him with an invitation letter to appear before the commission on the 13th day of February, 2026, at 10am.
“The applicant, through his legal representatives, requested to honour the invitation on the 18th day of February, 2026.
“Before the agreed date, he had honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and was detained.
“He was later granted administrative bail but was unable to meet the conditions and remained in EFCC custody.”
The allegations
The petition against el-Rufai alleged:
Serious discrepancies in the state’s debt profile.
Cash withdrawals in foreign currency amounting to €1.4 million, with the purpose allegedly unclear.
Alleged diversion of public revenue by failure to remit funds into the TSA account.
Use of a debit card on a revenue bank account, with total transactions amounting to N721,672,854.88.
Alleged violation of Section 3.3.1 of Kaduna State Financial Policies and Procedures Manual 2016.
Diversion of funds to individuals and companies amounting to N393,752,670.05.
Transfers to undisclosed accounts totalling N428,122,180.18.
Suspicious payments (180) amounting to N2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State IGR.
The petition further alleged: “The past administration collected about N98.912 billion as domestic loans for developmental projects in Kaduna State.
“The past administration also collected over $7,366,070,222.5 as foreign loans to be serviced by the people of Kaduna State.
“Our findings showed that while the Kaduna State Government between 2015 and 2023 embarked on ambitious projects, some were allegedly executed in contravention of procurement laws.
“It is alleged that only a few projects were completed, while several were abandoned despite full payment to contractors.
“Of concern was the alleged disregard for the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2016.”
What el-Rufai said
In a statement on oath to the ICPC, el-Rufai said he was being persecuted as an opposition figure.
He stated that he would exercise his right to silence until arraigned before a court.
He said: “I am a leading member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which I consider the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria, and that is the real reason I am being investigated.
“Regarding this question and any other questions, I have, on the advice of counsel, decided to exercise my right to silence.
“I believe that after nearly two years of intensive investigation, the ICPC should present its findings before a judicial tribunal and not to me.
“I will respond to any allegations only in a court of law. I do not believe these investigations amount to law enforcement.
“This is political persecution which only a judge can decide upon.”
A key figure in a network that sent more than 1,000 Kenyans to fight for the Russian army was charged on Thursday with human trafficking, the state prosecutor said.
Festus Omwamba, 33, the founder of recruitment agency Global Face Human Resources, who allegedly used to funnel Kenyans to Russia, was presented in court following his arrest in Moyale, a border town with Ethiopia.
In a post on X, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said Omwamba is accused “to have recruited twenty-two Kenyan youths to Russia for exploitation by means of deception.”
According to the state prosecutor, 22 “victims of human trafficking were rescued” in a police operation last September, while three others who found themselves on the front line of the Russia-Ukraine war returned home with injuries.
More than 1,000 Kenyans have joined the Russian army in recent months, Kenyan MP Kimani Ichung’wah told parliament last week, citing a joint report from the intelligence services and DCI.
Several media outlets, including AFP, have reported on the forced conscription of many Africans.
Many had no military experience and were promised lucrative civilian jobs in Russia, only to be forced to sign contracts with the army and sent to the frontlines in Ukraine with limited training, where many have died.
AFP recently spoke with four Kenyans – three wounded – who made it home. One thought he was going for a job as a salesman, two thought they would be security guards, and the fourth was a high-level athlete.
All were recruited through Global Face Human Resources and had denounced Omwamba’s role in the deception, along with one of his employees, Edward Gituku, who is currently being prosecuted for human trafficking.
The Russian embassy in Kenya denied the accusations last week, calling them a “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign”.
‘Two South Africans died in Russia war’
Several South Africans remain in Russia, and at least two have died fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Thursday after 15 men reportedly tricked into joining mercenary forces were repatriated.
Eleven men landed back in South Africa on Wednesday, part of a group of 17 who requested help from Pretoria after they were trapped for months in the epicentre of the fighting in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Four arrived back home last week, while two remained in Russia to receive medical treatment for “very severe” injuries, Lamola said.
“There are other South Africans that we have since discovered were part of the process, and… we have since discovered that some have also died,” Lamola told state broadcaster SABC.
The government was “notified by the Russian embassy” of two men who had died, he said, who had been “part of another recruitment drive or another scheme”.
The minister did not specify how many South Africans remained on the frontlines.
The first group of 17 men were allegedly sent to Russia for security guard training by the opposition Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, which is headed by ex-president Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s leader between 2009 and 2018.
One of Zuma’s daughters, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, resigned from parliament after claims she was involved in recruiting the men.
South African law prohibits its citizens from fighting for a foreign country’s army without government authorisation.
Ukraine said on Wednesday that more than 1,780 citizens from 36 African countries had been identified among Russia’s ranks, and that some of them had been captured.
Many Nigerians fighting in Russia
There have been reports of many Nigerians deceived to migrate to Russia, and also fighting in Ukraine.
Last week, the Federal Government of Nigeria warned against the illegal recruitment of Nigerian citizens into foreign armed conflicts.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, expressed grave concern over the rising and alarming cases of Nigerian citizens being illegally recruited to participate in foreign armed conflicts.
According to him, recent media investigations and security reports indicated that Nigerian nationals were allegedly recruited under false pretences, including promises of lucrative employment, security jobs, educational opportunities, or migration incentives.
Daily Trust, quoting sources familiar with the matter, recently reported that at least four Nigerians allegedly recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine were killed on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, has since denied reports that Nigerians are being conscripted to fight in Ukraine.
But the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, insisted that Russia is recruiting Nigerians and other Africans to support its war effort in Ukraine.
Mignot made the claim last Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s programme, The Morning Brief, as the Russia-Ukraine war marked its fourth anniversary.
“There is another important phenomenon which is impacting Africa, which is the recruitment of African men and women by Russia. Women to be sent to work in military plants in Russia, and men to be sent as cannon fodder on the front. Of course, they are being lured with job promises,” Mignot said.
He alleged that Russia is turning to Africa due to mounting military pressure and a shortage of personnel.
“Russia is running out of soldiers, so they have been increasingly doing that, including with Nigerians, and it’s extremely crude sending these people who have absolutely nothing to do with this war to die on the front,” he said.
2027: How 3 southern senators scuttled real-time e-transmission of election results — Sources
Fresh facts have emerged on how the Senate rejected a proposal to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory, ahead of the 2027 general election.
The proposal formed part of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 903), specifically an amendment to Clause 60(3), which sought to compel presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, in real time.
The recommendation, which also triggered wider reforms on election timelines, penalties for electoral offences and voting technology, was voted down by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
At the centre of the controversy is Section 60(3) of the bill, dealing with the transmission of polling unit results. The provision was recommended by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South).
Sources told Vanguard that during clause-by-clause consideration of the committee’s report, the Senate initially worked on a version that retained real-time electronic transmission.
However, after hours of deliberations and as plenary dragged late into the evening, the final version passed by the Senate was altered at the last minute to expunge the provision.
This, sources said, was even though the Senate had earlier approved electronic transmission overwhelmingly during a closed session.
An ad-hoc committee, chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, APC (Ondo Central), had also endorsed it after more than one year of consultations.
The Adegbonmire committee engaged INEC, civil society organisations and stakeholders through joint sessions and zonal public hearings, where consensus was reportedly reached that electronic transmission must be explicitly legalised to avoid the legal controversies that trailed the 2023 general elections.
Page 45 of the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Clause 60(3) provided: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portal in real time and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents available at the polling unit.”
A source said that when senators got to the clause, many assumed it would pass smoothly, given prior resolutions.
“That was when the unexpected happened,” the source said, adding that three ranking Southern senators allegedly intervened.
According to the source, the senators approached the Senate President and urged him to retain the provision of the 2022 Electoral Act.
Akpabio was said to have upheld the existing law, which allows electronic transmission only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.
Instead of “transmission,” the word “transfer” was adopted, in line with the 2022 Act, even though no fresh debate was conducted on the floor.
The rejected amendment would have mandated real-time upload of results to IReV immediately after completion of Form EC8A.
The adopted provision states: “The Presiding Officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the commission.”
Senate bows to pressure, to hold emergency sitting tomorrow, instead of Feb 24
However, following the widespread criticisms that have trailed its rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the bill, which sought to make the real time electronic transmission of election results mandatory, the Senate has been forced to reconvene an emergency plenary sitting tomorrow, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon.
It had on Wednesday, adjourned plenary till February 24.
The new development to reconvene tomorrow was formally contained in an official notice dated February 8, 2026, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The notice to the senators, sighted yesterday, read: “I am directed by President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, to inform all senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that an emergency sitting of the Senate has been scheduled to hold as follows: Date: Tuesday, 10 February, 2026. Time: 12:00 Noon.
“Venue: Senate Chamber. Senators are kindly requested to note this emergency sitting date and attend. All inconveniences this will cause to senators are highly regretted.”
Although the official notice did not state the reason for the emergency session, the timing strongly suggests a connection to the intense national controversy trailing the Senate’s handling of key provisions in the Electoral Act amendment, particularly Section 60(3).
The Senate had adjourned plenary last week after the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to allow lawmakers participate in ongoing budget defence sessions by ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, ahead of the final consideration of the ¦ 58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, scheduled for March 17.
Recall that during the clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral bill, the Senate, presided over by Akpabio, adopted a motion moved by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North and seconded by the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North, to reject the proposed Section 60(3).
The rejected amendment sought to make real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal mandatory. It proposed that:
“The presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by candidates or polling unit agents, where available.”
Instead, the Senate retained Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which states.
Parliamentary sources said the Senate must reconvene to approve the votes and proceedings to validate the decisions taken.
This, they argued, would clarify whether “transfer” or “electronic transmission” was adopted by senators and enable the conference committee to function.
Without approval of the votes and proceedings, the conference committee constituted by Akpabio to harmonise the bill with the House of Representatives cannot effectively commence work.
Members of the conference committee include Senator Simon Lalong (Chairman); Senators Niyi Adegbonmire, APC, Ondo Central; Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North; Adamu Aliero, APC, Kebbi Central; Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North; Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South; Asuquo Ekpenyong, APC, Cross River South; Aminu Iya Abbas, Adamawa; and Tokunbo Abiru, APC, Lagos East.
Beyond electronic transmission, the Senate also made sweeping changes to other provisions of the bill.
It dropped stiffer penalties for buying and selling of voter cards, which proposed fines ranging from N500,000 to N5 million and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The Senate reduced the period for INEC’s notice of election from 360 days to 180 days under amended Clause 28.
It also cut the timeline for political parties to submit candidates’ lists from 180 days to 90 days under Clause 29.
Under Clause 47, the Senate replaced smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, but rejected electronically generated voter identification, retaining the Permanent Voter Card, PVC, as the sole mode of identification at polling units.
Clause 142, which sought to ease proof of non-compliance in election petitions by relying on documentary evidence, was also struck out following concerns that it could clog the courts.
Delay may not derail 2027 polls—NBA
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has expressed concern over the Senate’s delay in concluding work on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
NBA President, Mr Afam Osigwe, SAN, said while the Bar was worried about the pace of the National Assembly, the delay would not necessarily derail the 2027 general elections if INEC and stakeholders worked with the existing legal framework.
“The process itself has not really started. But if those amendments can be brought in, and they improve credibility, it will be better,” Osigwe told Vanguard.
He advised INEC to continue preparations under the subsisting law, noting that technological issues, such as result transmission, only come into play on election day.
“You can pass the best laws, and if the judicial interpretation is anything but progressive, we have still not achieved anything,” he said, citing how courts interpreted provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
Also reacting, civil society leader, Mr Clement Nwankwo, urged INEC to immediately issue the notice for the 2027 elections under the existing Electoral Act, which requires 360 days’ notice.
“What I am saying is that INEC should use our current Electoral Act and go ahead and announce the notice for elections in 2027,” he said.
Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, accused the Senate of undermining national consensus by allegedly altering the agreed version of the bill.
“The Electoral Act is not the personal property of anybody; it is a national property,” he said on Channels Television, warning that secrecy around executive sessions had resulted in what he described as a “legislative ambush.”
He disclosed that a joint committee involving the Senate, House of Representatives, INEC and judicial experts had agreed that results must be transmitted electronically in real time to IReV.
“Nigeria’s elections are among the most expensive in the world. You can’t spend billions on BVAS and then short-change Nigerians on its use,” Nwankwo said, warning that continued manipulation of legislative outcomes could erode public trust and fuel unrest.
NLC threatens mass boycott, mass action over electoral ambiguity
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has threatened mass action and a possible nationwide boycott of future elections over what it described as confusion and contradictions surrounding the Senate’s amendment of the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Raising concerns over the credibility of the 2027 general elections, the NLC accused the Senate of undermining public trust in the electoral process and warned that failure to clearly mandate real-time electronic transmission of results could plunge the nation into another electoral crisis.
NLC in a statement by the President, Joe Ajaero, said: “NLC expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results.
‘’This lack of clarity undermines public trust and is deeply troubling for our democracy. The Nigerian people deserve a transparent electoral process where their votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.
‘’We urge the Senate to provide an immediate, official and unambiguous account of its proceedings and final decisions. Public records suggest the proposed amendment to mandate INEC to transmit results electronically in real-time was not adopted, with the existing discretionary provision retained.
‘’This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion. At a critical juncture, following the 2023 elections, such legislative ambiguity risks institutionalising doubt at the heart of our electoral integrity and echoes past controversies that have caused national distress.
“Therefore, NLC demands immediate clarity and transparency. The Senate must issue a definitive statement on the exact provisions passed, clarifying the final wording and rationale.
‘’The National Assembly leadership must also ensure the harmonisation process produces a final bill with crystal-clear provisions. Any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy.
“We call on the Senate to restore legislative credibility by ensuring its processes are transparent and its outcomes clear. The amended Act must provide an unambiguous mandate for INEC to transmit and collate results from polling units in real-time electronically. The path to the 2027 elections must be built on certainty, not confusion.
“Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely. The NLC is working within its networks to advocate clarity and integrity. We will not stand by while the trust of Nigerians is betrayed again and the clarity of our electoral laws is compromised.
‘’Failure to add electronic transmission real-time will lead to mass action before, during and after the election or total boycott of the election.
‘’Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity. We need to avoid the same confusion that trailed the 2023 elections. A people united can never be defeated! Workers united can never be defeated!”
Hundreds of projects remained incomplete or have not commenced despite budgetary allocations, the report stated.
by Ekemini Simon
A new civic accountability report tracking federal government-funded projects under President Bola Tinubu administration has uncovered cases of abandoned, uncompleted and fraudulent projects across Nigeria.
The 2024/2025 project tracking report released on Thursday by Tracka, BudgIT’s citizen-led monitoring platform, showed that 92 federal government-funded projects worth N15.07 billion were fraudulently delivered, while hundreds of others remain incomplete or have not commenced despite budgetary allocations.
The report said it monitored 2,760 projects across 28 states.
According to the findings, only 1,438 of the tracked projects were completed, 660 were ongoing, 471 were not executed, and 99 were abandoned.
The report stated that the 92 fraudulently delivered projects were characterised by fund diversion, relocation of projects to unintended locations, payments for projects already executed in previous budget cycles, partial completion, or substandard execution.
Trackaidentified Imo, Lagos, Kwara, Abia and Ogun as states with the highest concentration of such fraudulent projects.
The report said 57.1 per cent of all the fraudulently delivered projects, involving N8.61 billion of the total N15.07 billion, are located in the five states.
Tracka stated that it conducted targeted tracking of strategic infrastructure projects in sectors critical to national development, including dams, primary healthcare centres and federal interventions in the Niger Delta region.
According to the report, findings revealed major implementation gaps, particularly in dam-related projects vital for irrigation, flood control and power generation.
The report stated that due to repeated national grid collapses recorded in 2024, the platform tracked 16 dam projects across 13 states valued at N432 million. None of the projects had been completed at the time of assessment. Four were abandoned, six were progressing slowly, while six had not commenced despite evidence of funding approvals.
Regarding primary healthcare infrastructure, Tracka tracked 47 revitalised primary healthcare centres across 25 states and found that only 26 facilities showed visible improvements in infrastructure or equipment. Twelve centres were undergoing renovation, eight showed no sign of intervention despite being listed as revitalised, while one facility had been completely abandoned.
The report noted that in many affected communities, residents continue to travel long distances for medical services due to inadequate staffing, poor equipment and weak sanitation standards.
The report stated that in the Niger Delta, the platform monitored 48 federal government-funded projects across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Rivers states. Tracka reported that of these, 29 projects were completed and delivered measurable benefits to communities, 13 had not commenced, four were ongoing, and two were untraceable despite confirmed funding.
The report, however, highlighted 15 success stories in which citizen engagement helped drive project delivery. These include the revitalisation of Kaida Sabo Primary Healthcare Centre, renovation works at Nawairudeen Primary School in Plateau State, completion of a previously stalled healthcare centre in Ikirun, empowerment programmes for persons with disabilities in Katsina, erosion control projects in Rivers State and borehole projects in Akwa Ibom.
The Head of Tracka, Joshua Osiyemi, said there is a need for citizen oversight to ensure that public funds deliver real impact. “If just 5 per cent of Nigerians engage in oversight, monitoring could reach 50 per cent, significantly reducing opportunities for corruption and greatly improving service delivery and quality of life across communities,” he said
A Nigerian man has been left in shock after a young woman identified as Precious Chinyere allegedly absconded with his car and other personal belongings after they checked into a hotel in the Asokoro area of Abuja, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The incident occurred on Thursday, when the man and the woman reportedly visited the hotel for a short-time stay. According to the victim, events took a dramatic turn later in the evening when he discovered that Precious had quietly left the hotel room without informing him.
SaharaReporters gathered that the woman allegedly made away with several personal items belonging to the man, including his mobile phones and laptop, as well as his car.
Following the discovery, the distraught man reportedly alerted the hotel management and immediately lodged a complaint with the police.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, told SaharaReporters that the case has been reported and is currently under investigation.
She said efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the suspect, adding that further details would be made public as the investigation progresses.
The decision by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, to halt operations at Nigeria’s state-owned refineries has triggered widespread debate across the country. But speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), Ojulari made it clear that the move was driven by stark economic realities rather than politics or sentiment.
According to Ojulari, an internal commercial review of the refineries revealed that continued operations under the existing structure were destroying value and draining scarce public resources.
“We were just wasting money,” Ojulari said bluntly. “The refineries were leaking value, and there was no clear line of sight on how those losses would ever turn into profits.”
Nigeria’s four government-owned refineries — two in Port Harcourt, one in Warri, and one in Kaduna — have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day. Yet for decades, they have operated far below optimal levels, often producing little or no refined products while consuming billions of naira annually in operating and maintenance costs.
Ojulari said the decision to halt operations was taken after it became clear that running the refineries simply to show activity made no commercial sense.
“You cannot sleep when you have been trained for decades to look at profitability and commerciality,” he said. “When you are running an asset that turns crude oil into lower-value products while contractor costs continue to rise, that is not business. That is value destruction.”
Between 2010 and 2023, the federal government reportedly spent over ₦11 trillion on refinery rehabilitation and turnaround maintenance. Despite these massive investments, Nigeria remained heavily dependent on imported petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel, placing immense pressure on foreign exchange reserves and exposing the economy to global supply shocks.
In the 1980s and much of the 1990s, NNPC’s refineries operated efficiently, but performance declined in the 2000s as institutional focus shifted away from operational excellence toward EPC contracting, O&M structures, and financing-driven interventions. This transition weakened preventive maintenance culture, increased reliance on turnaround maintenance cycles that proved more commercially attractive to external parties, and contributed to the gradual erosion of in-house operational capacity within NNPC. In this context, the 2025 decision to shut down the refineries represents a pragmatic and necessary step toward halting value loss and enabling a more sustainable long-term reset of Nigeria’s refining framework.
Ojulari acknowledged that there was significant public pressure to keep the refineries running, even at a loss.
“The pressure was extreme,” he said. “Nigerians were angry. Expectations were high. But leadership is not about maintaining broken systems for optics. It is about stopping the bleeding and reassessing.”
He described the shutdown not as a failure, but as an act of responsible governance.
“Halting operations is not failure,” Ojulari insisted. “It is discipline. It is honesty. It is admitting that a system is not working and must be fundamentally restructured.”
Ojulari also pointed to the emergence of the privately owned Dangote Refinery as a key factor that has given Nigeria room to rethink its refinery strategy without risking fuel scarcity.
“Whether you love Dangote or not, thank God it is a Nigerian refinery, built in Nigeria and working in Nigeria,” he said. “It has given the country breathing space to step back and ask hard questions about what we want to do with our own assets.”
Beyond the shutdown itself, Ojulari outlined a new strategic direction for NNPC’s refinery assets. He said the fundamental problem with Nigeria’s refinery model was that the country treated refineries as projects rather than as long-term businesses.
“To make a refinery work, you need three things,” he explained. “You need financing. You need a competent EPC contractor. And you need world-class operational capacity. Historically, we focused on the first two and ignored the third.”
Ojulari said the new approach approved by the NNPC board would involve bringing in experienced global operators with equity stakes and long-term operational responsibility.
“We are not selling Nigeria,” he said. “But we are open to selling some equity to bring in operators who have skin in the game and can run these assets sustainably.”
He added that early signs of investor interest were already emerging, including inspections by major international petrochemical firms.
For Ojulari, the shutdown represents a decisive break from decades of refinery failure.
“This system was designed for everyone to take from it, not to put anything into it,” he said. “We are ending that era.”
Storms may be brewing for many of President Bola Tinubu’s recently nominated ambassadors who face the prospect of being rejected by host countries due to time constraints on their tenure, findings by Sunday PUNCH have revealed.
High-ranking officials in the Presidency and the foreign service disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was grappling with the challenge of securing agrément, the formal consent of receiving states, for the nominees.
According to them, several countries may insist that ambassadors have a minimum tenured period of a year or two tied to the life of the sending country’s administration.
With the next presidential election scheduled for February 2027 and Tinubu’s first tenure set to conclude in May that year, the officials expressed concerns that host countries may be reluctant to accept many of the envoys for now.
A highly-placed foreign service official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said, “The problem we have, which we are trying at the moment to see what we can do about, is that most countries, like India, will tell you that if an ambassador has less than one year or two, they may have issues. Usually, one year counts to the end of any current administration.
“So, that is where there might be a challenge. By the time they get the agrément, some of these ambassadors will have just a few months left. We are trying to see how we can deal with that.”
Career foreign service officers often serve a tour of approximately three years per ambassadorship.
Under Article 4 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, receiving states must grant consent before any ambassador can be accredited.
However, receiving states are not obliged to give reasons to the sending state for a refusal of agrément.
This means countries can reject an ambassador nominee without explanation, including for tenure-related concerns, at the state’s discretion.
In September 2023, barely four months into his administration, President Tinubu concluded a sector-wide reassessment of Nigeria’s foreign policy, which saw career and non-career ambassadors recalled from 109 missions, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates; leaving the missions without substantive heads for over two years.
The Federal Government cited the need for “world-class efficiency and quality” in foreign service delivery as justification for the mass recall.
Only Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York and Geneva were exempted due to the imminent UN General Assembly at the time.
The Ambassador to the Niger Republic was also exempted due to the unconstitutional change of government in the neighbouring country.
However, it was not until November 2025, more than 26 months later, that President Tinubu forwarded names of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
The first batch of three nominees, including Ayodele Oke, Amin Dalhatu, and Colonel Lateef Are (retd.), was transmitted to the National Assembly on November 26, 2025.
Days later, on November 29, the President submitted an additional 32 names, comprising 17 non-career diplomats and 15 career officers.
As of the time of this report, the President has nominated at least 67 persons to fill various positions.
On January 22, 2026, the President confirmed the postings of Oke as the ambassador-designate to France, Are as the ambassador-designate to the United States of America, and Dalhatu as the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
Other nominees are expected to be deployed in strategic nations, including China, India, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
However, officials say that with the late announcement and the prolonged confirmation process, confirmed ambassadors may struggle to secure acceptance from their host countries in time. This is due to considerations of the tenure of the administration in the sending country.
Another source explained that the lengthy bureaucratic process might compound the challenge.
“You know, this process is something we would have concluded long ago. But because the announcement was made late last year, they had to go for their screening,” the official said.
The source added that after receiving their postings, ambassadors must attend a mandatory retreat.
They must also collect personalised post reports from the foreign ministry and then wait for agrément from the receiving states.
An official in the foreign service noted that some ambassadors may not commence their tours of duty until August 2026. This would leave them with barely nine months before the next election.
“Some people may not go before August because some countries will take their time to do background checks. When you send the name, sometimes they will respond, ‘Send someone else.’ And when you insist on asking why, they will give you their own report of their background checks.
“Or they may just ignore you for six months. The person will be waiting until you go to their ministry of internal affairs and ask why, to say, ‘we demand to know the reason.’
“Then they will tell you why, based on their background checks. So, it is a long process,” the official disclosed.
The source noted that the background verification at the receiving country must be completed before the prospective ambassador can begin their tour of duty.
Meanwhile, a Presidency official confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was handling all the processes, including the tenure hurdle.
“As far as I know, everything is now with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The President has given them approval to send names to the countries. It is when those countries accept that we will release a statement saying which country each person is going to,” the source stated.
The official explained that the FG would withhold announcements until an agrément was secured.
“When you say someone is going to a certain country, what if that country asks for a change? They can reject it. In another one or two weeks, we will get more clarity on those who have been accepted,” the source confirmed.
But another foreign ministry official noted that the FG was working to expedite the process.
“It’s concerning to them (nominees) too. But we are working to see if we can fast-track it,” the official assured.
Nigeria’s foreign missions have been without ambassadors since September 2023.
Critics have warned that the country risks international isolation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had previously attributed the delay to funding challenges, currency fluctuations affecting foreign missions, and the President’s focus on economic reforms.
‘Host countries only being pragmatic’
Speaking with our correspondent, a former ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said receiving states considering Nigeria’s political calendar were simply being pragmatic
“The underlying word here is pragmatism. Those receiving states are just being pragmatic if they take that view because the next round of general elections is in a year from now, in February and March,” Ode said.
He added, “The question is now about an envoy from a president who is facing an election in a year. Elections, no matter how we think we understand them, can go either way.
“So, why receive letters of credence from a principal envoy from a President who has just one year and some months remaining for his first term in office? So, they may dilly-dally in issuing an agrément. The way it usually plays out is that they may want to delay issuing an agrément for an incoming ambassador.”
Amedu-Ode described the administration’s delay in nominating ambassadors as a mistake.
“The mistake has been made by the current administration already because they shouldn’t have waited two to three years into their term before nomination, screening, and deployment of heads of missions.
“Technically speaking, when nominations are made, it is typical for the ministry to request agrément from the receiving states before announcing the posting. That way, in case an envoy is rejected, it does not become an embarrassment,” he noted.
‘Political appointees may be affected’
However, Nigeria’s former envoy to Algeria, Mohammed Mabdul, noted that friendly nations were unlikely to reject Nigerian nominees outright.
He said, “The thing is that the receiving government will not have an issue as long as it is a friendly government, since the issues of diplomacy are often reciprocal.
“The way you treat the receiving country is the way they will treat you too when you are sending yours. They tend to be very careful to ensure that, as long as there is no drastic problem in the request, they will approve it, especially in countries that are very friendly to Nigeria.
“Those will not be a problem. Even if there were side complaints, it would not be in a manner that would warrant a rejection.”
The former envoy also drew a distinction between career and political appointees, noting that the latter faced greater challenges.
“We have two categories of appointees, career and political appointees. For career ambassadors, that is their job. They can move at any time. They can be redeployed. It is their career. Once you are a career officer, you are part of the diplomatic arrangement. So, there would be no issue there.
“But the political appointees are the problem. Once received and accredited, they are usually expected to remain for two to three years. But with the next election in just a year now, there is the possibility that they may start returning to participate in campaigns. So, they may not make any serious impact with their posting.
“The political appointees may not be able to settle down and do their work before another election cycle would start. But again, after the election, even if they are to be recalled, it would not be immediately. After the election, they will remain there until handover. And even if they are recalled, they will be given three months to leave,” he stated.
Details have unfurled on the scope of Nigeria’s military partnership with the United States, following increased collaboration between both countries in the wake of President Donald Trump’s re-designation of the West African nation as a country of particular concern (CPC).
Trump made the decision last October in response to allegations of a Christian genocide in the country, despite repeated rebuttals from the Nigerian government.
The following month, the US president threatened to send troops into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to wipe out the terrorists killing Christians.
The warning, which was largely perceived as a proposed violation of international law and state sovereignty, prompted President Bola Tinubu to dispatch a high-level team, led by Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), to meet Pete Hegseth, US defence secretary.
After the meeting, Hegseth said his department was “working aggressively” with Nigeria to end the alleged persecution of Christians by jihadist terrorists.
Hegseth offered no details on the nature of the engagement.
DEMAND FOR A DRONE REFUEL STATION
Days after Ribadu’s meeting with Hegseth, the US began conducting intelligence-gathering flights over swathes of Nigerian territory.
Flight tracking data and current and former US officials said the contractor-operated aircraft used for the surveillance typically took off from Ghana and flew over Nigeria before returning to Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
At the time, it was unclear what information the flights were intended to obtain.
On Christmas Day, the US launched missile strikes on two terrorist enclaves in Bauni forest in Tangaza LGA, Sokoto state.
Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs said the “precision hits” stemmed from the exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between both countries, and was in line with “established international practice and bilateral understanding”.
It was widely reported that the strike involved more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles fired off a navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea.
But officials familiar with the details of the operation told TheCable that the strikes involved drones.
Advanced drones can fire precision shots using mounted weapons like rifles, missiles, or guided munitions, achieving high accuracy in tests and operations.
They are also capable of malfunctioning and depositing debris across distances.
Communities in Sokoto and Kwara states had reported explosions at the same time the US launched a fusillade of air strikes on ISIS terrorists.
The federal government later confirmed that the explosions in Kwara were caused by debris from the precision-guided munitions (PGMs) fired by the US.
Top officials from Nigeria, including the NSA, and the US, such as Allison Hooker, under-secretary of state, have since engaged in bilateral working group meetings.
An official familiar with the conversations between both countries told TheCable that the US had demanded to have a station in Nigeria where they can refuel their drones after trips from Accra.
Drones can be refuelled in multiple ways, depending on their design and fuel type, extending their operational range beyond battery or fuel limits.
Most consumer and commercial drones (battery-powered or fuel-based) are routinely recharged or refuelled on the ground at stations.
Hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for example, use methods like blowdown filling from high-pressure sources or boost compression to top up compressed tanks quickly.
TheCable understands that discussions on the subject have progressed and a north-eastern state has been designated as the station host.
“We’re not going to have boots on the ground. We’re not going to have military leg operation. They are only going to support Nigeria either in equipment or intelligence or something like that, not in a fighting capacity,” the official said.
“It would possibly be an advisory capacity — maybe training or things like that — which are already ongoing.”
The official noted that the US proposed Lagos or Abuja which was rebuffed on sensitive grounds.
The source added that the north-east was chosen because it hosts Nigeria’s drone operations.
The station would allow US officials fly in from Ghana, which is a hub for America’s military’s logistics network in Africa, to strategise on supporting Nigerian troops.
THE ‘SMALL TEAM’ IN TOWN
On Tuesday, Dagvin Anderson, the general in charge of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), said the US had dispatched a “small team” of troops to Nigeria following recent security cooperation between both countries.
Anderson’s disclosure sparked an uproar, seeing as it was the first official acknowledgement of US boots on the ground in Nigeria since the Christmas Day strike.
But an official familiar with the operation downplayed the gravity to TheCable.
“AFRICOM has always collaborated with Nigeria, there has always been US troops on the ground. The only thing that changed is the scope of their assignment,” the official said.
That new scope has now been assigned to the US 3rd special forces group, a former US official told TheCable.
The 3rd special forces group is designed to deploy and execute nine doctrinal missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defence, direct action, counter-insurgency, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, information operations, counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and security force assistance.
The group was primarily responsible for operations within the AFRICOM area of responsibility, as part of the Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA). Its core area of operation is now Africa as part of a 2015 SOCOM directive.
In the past, the group has engaged in missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali, Ethiopia, the Congo, and Jordan.
Following Anderson’s statement, Christopher Musa, Nigerian minister of defence, explained that the US personnel are not combat troops.
Musa described the group as a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training initiatives.
He did not disclose details regarding the size of the team, their arrival date, location, or stay duration.
But an official familiar with their operations told TheCable that the team played a role in coordinating the Christmas Day bombing.
US lawmaker criticises FG’s $9m lobbying deal, says Nigerian officials have a ‘culture of denial’
by Claire Mom
United States lawmakers revisited concerns of religious freedom in Nigeria during a hearing on the topic on Wednesday in Washington DC.
The hearing examined countries worldwide where the lawmakers say religious freedom is under threat, a characterisation Nigerian authorities have rejected.
Citing Genocide Watch, Chris Smith, house foreign affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described Nigeria as “a killing field of defenceless Christians”.
“That wrong in our foreign policy has been righted with the President’s CPC designation. We commend and thank him for that action,” Smith said.
While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “small steps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying deals aimed at influencing the US government.
In December, Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protect Christians to the US government.
The same month, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between the US and Nigeria.
Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial by Nigerian officials persists”.
“I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and a Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour to influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said.
“They hire these firms; they come up with their very well-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, how these firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religious freedom.”
Joaquin Castro, a lawmaker, questioned the effectiveness of the US strikes in Nigeria last year.
He accused the President Donald Trump administration of striking using a front of “protecting Christians” yet “cutting assistance that would actually address discrimination against religious communities”.
The lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s CPC redesignation, with some describing it as largely “name and shame” without direct consequences, while others said it helped refocus “attention on Nigeria”.
‘Inflation Not On Private Jets’: Sowore Says Oshiomhole, Seen Rubbing Mistress’ Foot Mid-Flight, Is Clueless On Nigerian Hardship
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticized Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, for being disconnected from the economic realities of ordinary Nigerians.
He described the lawmaker as someone who speaks from “30,000 feet” and can afford to rent a private jet.
Sowore’s comments came in response to a SaharaReporters’ report on a viral video showing the senator and former Edo State governor rubbing a woman’s foot aboard a luxury private jet.
The clip has circulated widely on social media, attracting criticism and raising questions about the lifestyle of public officials amid ongoing economic hardship in Nigeria.
SaharaReporters confirmed that the woman in the video is a South African lifestyle influencer and adult-oriented content creator, not Oshiomhole’s wife as had been previously speculated online.
The influencer, who previously used the Instagram handle @leshaan_dagama and the TikTok handle @leshaandagama, has described herself as a “professional sugar baby” and encouraged broke people to “stay away.”
Speaking on the senator’s statements about food prices, Sowore said: “Exactly. When ‘Comrade’ Oshiomhole says food prices have dropped, he’s not speaking from the marketplace, he’s speaking from 30,000 feet.
“A man who can casually rent a private jet for indulgent personal errands (just so he could massage the foot of an only fans South African female) lives in a different economic universe altogether.
“How would someone so insulated from daily struggle know the price of garri, rice, or cooking oil?”
“Hunger doesn’t register in first class, and inflation is invisible when your life runs on private jets and a dirty privileged filled lifestyle,” he added.
In December 2025, Oshiomhole expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, asserting that despite the hardship currently experienced by Nigerians, the administration was on the right path to recovery.
Speaking on Channels Television, the lawmaker acknowledged the growing public discontent over the rising cost of living and the closure of businesses since the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, but urged Nigerians to be patient and maintain trust in the reforms.
“There is no question that there are huge challenges. But if you look at the balance sheet that this president inherited, massive liabilities arising from the very reckless misuse of ways and means, you’d understand why these steps were necessary,” he said.
Describing the economic recovery process as akin to a medical operation, he noted, “It’s a work in progress. The surgeon has gone to carry out the surgery. He understands that there is a level of pain; there has to be pain. But the good news is that the patient is healing. Maybe he could heal faster, but there can be no question that the patient is healing.”
He pointed to the exchange rate unification as a painful but critical decision to align supply with demand, warning that failure to do so could have plunged the country into a Zimbabwe-like economic collapse.
According to him, President Tinubu deliberately chose to make all the difficult but necessary decisions in his first term to pave the way for long-term recovery.
Oshiomhole dismissed the idea of quick fixes, noting that meaningful governance requires time and a deep understanding of inherited challenges.
“There is no magic to governance. I don’t think any Nigerian who understands the macroeconomic environment that was inherited by this government would expect that, in 24 months, everything would be fixed,” he said.
“Truly, this economy was badly mismanaged. This is not to blame anyone, but to speak to fact. I can say the worst is over, and we are going to begin to witness improvements in standard of living.”
Critics note that Oshiomhole, a former labour leader and ex-APC national chairman now serving as senator, has long portrayed himself as a champion of workers’ rights, making his lavish display in the video particularly controversial.
The United States has sent a small team of troops to Nigeria, the general in charge of the U.S. command for Africa (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, said on Tuesday.
The top commander, while addressing journalists during a press briefing, said the decision to send troops to Nigeria was after both countries agreed that more needed to be done to combat the terrorist threat in West Africa.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States,” General Anderson said.
Anderson did not provide further details about the size and scope of their mission.
According to Reuters, Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Christopher Musa, confirmed that a team was working in Nigeria but did not provide further details.
The development is the first acknowledgment of U.S. forces on the ground since US airstrikes targeting terrorists in Nigeria’s North-West on Christmas Day, 2025.
President Donald Trump, who announced that he ordered the airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State targets, had said there could be more U.S. military action in Nigeria.
According to Reuters, the U.S. had been conducting surveillance flights over the country from Ghana since at least late November.
A former U.S. official said the U.S. team appeared to be heavily involved in intelligence gathering and enabling Nigerian forces to strike terrorist-affiliated groups.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has come under intense pressure by Washington to act after President Trump accused the country of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants operating in the northwest.
Tribune Online reports that the Nigerian government denies any systematic persecution of Christians, saying both Muslims and Christians are affected by the security challenges facing the country, stating however that it is targeting Islamist fighters and other armed groups responsible for the attacks.
A war of words erupted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday between Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, and Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following a disagreement that spiralled from public policy into a debate over grammar.
The exchange began after Onanuga reacted to reports of vandalism affecting ongoing rehabilitation work on the Ilesha–Ibadan Expressway. In a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, at about 8:09 a.m., the presidential spokesman called for drastic action against those sabotaging public infrastructure.
“Just shoot these unconscionable vandals/thieves at sight. They are the worst species of citizenship,” Onanuga wrote.
Hours later, Shaibu responded via his handle, @phrankangel, condemning the statement as reckless and unlawful. He argued that no government official had the authority to advocate extrajudicial killings.
“As a government spokesman, you cannot call for citizens to be ‘shot at sight.’ That is not law enforcement; it is lawlessness,” Shaibu said.
“Nigeria is not a killing field. Crimes are handled through arrest, investigation and the courts — not instant death orders from reckless statements.”
Shaibu further warned that such rhetoric could be extended to protesters or critics, adding pointedly: “I just hope you haven’t joined the smoking gang.”
Later that night, Shaibu returned to the thread, this time shifting focus to what he described as a grammatical error in Onanuga’s original post. At about 9:37 p.m., he argued that the correct expression should be “shoot on sight,” not “shoot at sight.”
Onanuga responded the following morning, dismissing the criticism and insulting Shaibu. “Foolish boy. Both usages are correct. Upgrade your grammar,” he wrote at about 9:12 a.m.
Shaibu replied with a lengthy rejoinder, presenting what he framed as a lesson in English usage. Without responding in kind to the insult, he insisted that “shoot on sight” is a fixed idiom and not interchangeable with “shoot at sight.”
“Fixed idioms are not open to distortion or creative rearrangement,” Shaibu wrote, adding that misused expressions reflect poor command of the language.
“It smacks of wretched illiteracy to argue that such expressions can be used interchangeably,” he said, recommending grammar textbooks for further study.
As of press time, Onanuga had not responded to Shaibu’s final post, bringing the public exchange between the senior aides of Nigeria’s two leading political rivals to a pause
African countries are stepping up investment in aerial defence in 2026, with air power increasingly emerging as one of the continent’s most decisive military assets.
In regions where conflicts can erupt rapidly and national borders span vast distances, air assets provide speed, reach and deterrence beyond the capacity of ground forces alone.
From counter-insurgency operations to regional peacekeeping missions, military aviation has moved to the centre of national security planning across the continent.
Against this backdrop, Egypt, Algeria and Angola have emerged as Africa’s leading air powers in 2026, according to the Global Firepower Index, reflecting how sustained investment in aircraft fleets has become a key measure of military influence.
Global Firepower assesses a country’s total air service strength in its annual rankings, covering fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft operated by the Air Force, Army Aviation, Navy and Marine units.
The inventory includes fighter jets, interceptors, training aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, bombers, ground-attack aircraft and special-mission platforms, while aircraft still under development or on order are excluded from the assessment.
1. Egypt (1,088)
Egypt operates Africa’s largest and most formidable military aircraft fleet, ranking ninth globally with 1,088 aircraft. Its air force forms the backbone of national defence, built on decades of sustained investment and strong military partnerships with the United States, France and Russia. The fleet includes advanced platforms such as F-16s, Rafales and MiG-29s, alongside attack helicopters and transport aircraft. Given Egypt’s strategic position linking the Middle East, North Africa and the Red Sea corridor, air superiority remains central to its security doctrine.
2. Algeria (620)
Algeria ranks 16th worldwide with 620 military aircraft, cementing its status as one of Africa’s leading air powers. Its fleet is largely shaped by Russian military hardware, including Sukhoi fighter jets, MiG aircraft and advanced air defence systems. Between 2018 and 2022, Russia accounted for about 73 per cent of Algeria’s arms imports. Air power is critical to securing Algeria’s vast territory, protecting energy assets and sustaining regional balance across North Africa and the Sahel, with the air force playing a key role in surveillance and counterterrorism along its lengthy borders.
3. Angola (278)
Angola fields 278 military aircraft, placing it 35th globally. Much of its air capability stems from Cold War-era acquisitions, mainly from Russia and former Soviet allies. The fleet comprises fighter jets, transport planes and helicopters deployed for territorial defence and internal security. Angola’s air force reflects long-term military investment shaped by decades of civil conflict and post-war stabilisation efforts.
4. Morocco (271 ) Morocco ranks 37th globally with 271 military aircraft, boasting one of Africa’s most modernised air forces. Close defence cooperation with the United States and European partners has strengthened its fleet, which includes F-16 fighter jets, transport aircraft and surveillance platforms. Air power is central to Morocco’s security strategy, particularly amid tensions over Western Sahara and its wider regional ambitions.
5. Sudan (183)
Sudan holds 183 military aircraft, ranking 47th worldwide. Its fleet, largely sourced from Russia and China, includes fighter jets, attack helicopters and transport aircraft. Historically, the air force has played a major role in internal conflicts, border disputes and troop mobility across Sudan’s expansive terrain. However, prolonged political instability, sanctions and ongoing conflict have affected maintenance and operational readiness, even as air power remains vital to its military structure.
6. South Africa (181)
South Africa ranks 48th globally with 181 military aircraft. Once home to one of the continent’s most advanced air forces, its current fleet includes Gripen fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters. The air force remains central to peacekeeping missions, disaster response and regional security operations conducted under the African Union and United Nations frameworks.
7. Nigeria (159)
Nigeria operates 159 military aircraft, ranking 54th worldwide. The Nigerian Air Force has expanded in recent years to support counter-insurgency campaigns against Boko Haram and other security threats. Its fleet includes fighter jets, attack helicopters, drones and transport aircraft acquired from the United States, China and Europe. Air power remains critical to Nigeria’s internal security strategy, given its size, population and complex security challenges.
8. Tunisia (155)
Tunisia ranks 56th globally with 155 military aircraft. Though relatively small, its air force is strategically focused on border security and counterterrorism. Tunisia relies heavily on partnerships with the United States and NATO allies for training, equipment and intelligence support. The fleet consists mainly of light aircraft, helicopters and limited combat platforms, playing a crucial role in monitoring the Libyan border and supporting internal security operations
9. Kenya (154)
Kenya fields 154 military aircraft, placing it 57th worldwide. Its air force underpins regional security operations, particularly against militant groups in Somalia. The fleet includes fighter jets, helicopters and surveillance aircraft, largely obtained through Western defence partnerships. Air power enables rapid troop deployment, intelligence gathering and maritime patrols along Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline.
10. Ethiopia (104)
Ethiopia ranks 70th globally with 104 military aircraft. Its air force, one of the most experienced in the Horn of Africa, has been shaped by decades of regional conflicts. The fleet comprises fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters, mainly sourced from Russia and Eastern Europe. Though smaller in size, it remains central to internal security operations and border defence.
The Defence Headquarters and relevant government agencies have commenced an investigation to trace and curb the use of drones by terrorists.
The director of defence media operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing journalists said the investigation had reached an advanced stage.
In recent months, terrorists operating in the North East had increasingly deployed sophisticated drones in attacks on civilians and security personnel, escalating concerns over the evolving tactics of the insurgents.
The use of advanced drone technology by terrorist groups has raised questions among security experts and the public about how the weapons are being sourced and the channels through which they are entering the country..
Onoja said measures were being taken in collaboration with relevant agencies to identify the sources of the drones and stop their deployment by non-state actors.
According to him, concrete actions are expected to emerge in the coming days or months.
“We have reached an advanced stage in taking measures, in conjunction with other federal government agencies, to trace where these drones are coming from. I believe that in the next couple of days or months, concrete action will emerge on what we intend to do,” he said.
He added that agencies with the capacity to prevent the use of drones were already involved and that decisive steps would be taken soon.
“The agencies that have capacity to prevent the use of drones have been contacted and we believe that action will be taken very soon on that,” he said.
Responding to questions on allegations circulating on social media that soldiers at checkpoints in Bauchi State were being compelled to remit weekly sums to their commanders, Onoja said the claims remained allegations.
He said the military is a transparent institution and assured that investigations would be carried out if details were provided.
“If the allegations are found to be true, necessary action will be taken,” he said.
On the return of Nigerian refugees from Cameroon, Onoja said the development reflected the success of military operations in restoring security to affected communities.
“The military, in conjunction with the federal government, has tried all within its capacity to ensure the necessary security in those areas,” he said, adding that the return of refugees was a measure of operational success.
Onoja also provided an update on operations in the North East under the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, noting that troops sustained operational momentum by denying Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad terrorists freedom of action.
The pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) may rise to N1,000 per litre in the coming days due to the surge in crude oil prices on the international market.
Fuel marketers told Saturday PUNCH that the sudden surge in the global crude prices to over $70 per barrel could trigger another increase in the pump prices of both imported and locally-produced petroleum products.
The increase in petrol prices came at a time when the Dangote Petroleum Refinery raised petrol prices from N739 to N839. Also, oil prices rose above $70 per barrel on Thursday, the highest in the past five months.
The commodity rose by three per cent on Thursday on rising concerns that global supplies could be disrupted if the United States attacks Iran, one of the biggest crude producers of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
According to Reuters, Brent futures rose $2.31, or 3.4 per cent, to settle at $70.71 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate gained $2.21, or 3.5 per cent, to trade at $65.42. As of Friday afternoon, oilprice.com reports that Brent settled at $70.89 while WTI was $65.80 a barrel, indicating a further rise in price.
It is worth stating that Brent crude is the global benchmark for crude oil, and a rise in its price affects the pricing dynamics of refined petroleum products globally.
Reuters reports that the US-Iran tension pushed both crude benchmarks into technically overbought territory, with Brent closing at its highest since July 31 and WTI closing at its highest since September 26.
US President Donald Trump is weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces and leaders to inspire protesters, multiple sources said, even as Israeli and Arab officials said air power alone would not topple Tehran’s clerical rulers.
In Iran, it was said that plainclothes security forces rounded up thousands of people in a campaign of mass arrests and intimidation to deter further protests.
“The immediate (market) concern is the collateral damage done if Iran takes a swing at its neighbours or, possibly even more tellingly, it closes the Strait of Hormuz to the 20 million barrels per day of oil that navigates it,” PVM analyst John Evans was quoted as saying.
Iran was the third-biggest crude producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq, in 2025, according to US Energy Information Administration data.
Speaking with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, expressed worries that unless crude oil prices reduce, the pump price of petrol would be affected.
According to him, crude oil and condensate exchange rates are the major determinants of fuel prices, saying a change in either would affect how petroleum products would be sold in the domestic market.
Ukadike mentioned that petrol could hit N1,000 per litre if the crude price surge continues, especially in locations far from fuel depots.
“As an independent marketer, we don’t normally want the price of petroleum products to go up; any increase you see now will be because of this international manoeuvre and everything happening in the international community in terms of crude oil price.
“The crude surge will definitely affect our local market. The price of petroleum products will come down if the crude price goes down, that’s the common principle of the market,” Ukadike said, admitting that the price of petrol may rise to N1,000, especially “in some other places that are not closer to the refinery or depots. That’s the speculation”.
While emphasising the importance of the price of crude to that of PMS, Ukadike stressed that the increase in petrol prices is putting pressure on marketers, limiting their purchasing power.
“Crude oil is important in refining petroleum products; once it goes up, the prices of petroleum products will also go up. We are gearing towards that. The only problem is that it is also giving us pressure in terms of our purchasing power because too much naira is now pursuing a few litres of petroleum products,” he added.
With the increase in petrol prices, Ukadike said sales are becoming slow compared to the December festive period. According to him, many consumers are becoming conservative now, reducing their fuel consumption because of the price.
“The market is becoming slow now, unlike in the festive season when the prices were low. People were filling their tanks then, but now, people are becoming conservative because of the price increase,” the IPMAN spokesman stated.
Another dealer, a major oil marketer and PMS importer, confirmed that the cost of petrol was bound to rise, stressing that the landing cost of the commodity could cross N900/litre if the global prices of crude sustain a northward swing.
“There is already pressure on funds to import the product (petrol) now, based on the pricing info we are getting from our suppliers. The simple reason is the surge in crude oil prices, caused by the tension in the Middle East,” the dealer, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.
“So N1,000/litre (for petrol) is not far from the range. It was sold around that price before, when the price of crude hovered around $75/barrel, and the exchange rate was a bit higher than what we have now. That is purely the market dynamics,” the petrol importer stated.
Our correspondent reports that since the Dangote refinery raised petrol prices on Monday, most filling stations have adjusted their pump prices.
In Lagos, prices ranged from N830 to N859 a litre. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited sold PMS at N849 on Friday. MRS filling stations sold the product for N839, while a few outlets displayed prices lower than that of the Dangote-partnered MRS.
Meanwhile, the Dangote refinery on Thursday reaffirmed its capacity to supply fuel volumes significantly more than Nigeria’s estimated domestic consumption.
In a statement, the refinery said it can supply 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) daily against an estimated national consumption of 50 million litres.
Aside from petrol, the plant also boasted that it can supply 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) compared with an estimated daily demand of 14 million litres and 20 million litres of aviation fuel daily, far above the estimated maximum domestic consumption of four million litres.
According to the statement, the availability of volumes above prevailing demand provides critical supply buffers, enhances market stability, and reduces reliance on imports, particularly during periods of peak demand or logistical disruption.
“The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery would like to reiterate our capability to supply the underlisted petroleum products of the highest international quality standard to marketers and stakeholders: 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, and 20 million litres of aviation fuel daily,” the company said in a public notice.
It was noted that supplying above the estimated consumption reduces the need for emergency imports, strengthens inventory cover, and enhances the resilience of the domestic supply chain.
Dangote also reaffirmed its commitment to full regulatory compliance and continued cooperation with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, stating that its supply approach is aligned with ongoing efforts to ensure market stability and orderly downstream operations.
The refinery said it remains fully engaged with regulators and industry stakeholders in support of Nigeria’s national energy security objectives, as the country deepens its transition from fuel import dependence to domestic refining.
It added that it continues to work closely with market participants to ensure that the benefits of local refining, including reliable supply, competitive pricing, and improved market discipline, are delivered consistently to consumers nationwide.
“With domestic refining capacity expanding, stakeholders believe Nigeria is increasingly positioned to reduce foreign exchange exposure, improve supply security, and strengthen downstream efficiency through locally refined petroleum products,” the statement concluded.
On Monday, the Dangote refinery announced an increase in its gantry price of petrol from N699 to N799 per litre. The new price increase means that Dangote’s gantry price is about N70 higher than the landing cost of imported PMS.
Findings by The PUNCH showed that marketers who completed payment and processed final slips at N699 per litre are being asked to top up to N799 per litre before loading, after the refinery withdrew the temporary festive price support and invalidated previously issued loading authorisations
[b]Some Nigerians have gone into hiding and others are returning home secretly [/b]over the intensified deportation campaign led by President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that many immigrants had stopped going to work as Trump reiterated his support for ICE actions.
The sweeping actions, which include house-to-house enforcement raids, have stirred panic, debate and protest, particularly following a series of high-profile deadly incidents involving the federal immigration officers.
The US president kick-started an immigration policy to arrest and remove illegal immigrants immediately after he was inaugurated into office in January 2025,
However, his policy has been met with criticisms by many people in the US and other countries over the cruelty which ICE meted out to immigrants
People who spoke to Saturday PUNCH from the US, said some Nigerians had abandoned places of work and many were secretly returning to their home country.
ICE operations
At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025.
Last year is said to be the deadliest in over two decades for deaths in ICE detention.
The Guardian of UK reported that in 2026 alone, no fewer than eight people have died in interactions involving ICE.
The recent cases that have created anxieties were the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
There was outrage when 37-year-old Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7.
Reports reveal it happened during an enforcement operation, and the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds.
Similarly, 37-year-old Pretti was shot and killed by the US federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, during a federal enforcement action.
ICE officials, in their operations, have gone from house to house, picking people to detain and deport, enforcing the immigration law of the Trump administration.
Reports say that about 70,000 people have been detained by the ICE officials since the crackdown began, while 540,000 immigrants were deported to their countries.
Immigrant decries raids
A Nigerian woman recently broke into tears in a viral video on Instagram, lamenting the panic and grief of immigrants in the US.
The woman said she was traumatised by the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
She said ICE agents killed any immigrants, whether they were US citizens or not.
“It is very traumatising the way these (ICE) people are treating immigrants,” she said. “President Trump, if you want the immigrants to leave America, tell us. Just come out and say, ‘All immigrants, we want you out, whether you are criminal or not.’”
“These (ICE) people don’t even care. There are a lot of immigrants who are treated like animals, and these people will be telling them, ‘we are citizens’, but they don’t care,” she added in the post which went viral.
While speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the woman, who asked to be identified as Senior Immigrant, said many Nigerians had resorted to online trading in order to earn a living due to the fear of the immigration agents.
She gave two instances.
Her shopkeeper, who had stopped coming to work since December, and a family for whom people contributed money to start a business after they stopped going to their factory work.
“My girl, who was working with me in my shop, stopped coming in mid-December. The reason was that she was scared for her life because ICE came to my area. The most unfortunate thing was that they came to her area in New Jersey. Since then, she has had anxiety and fear,” she said.
“People are staying indoors because of the fear of ICE. They get family support from those who work. Two weeks ago, someone called me to say that they were donating to support some families, and they requested that I contribute, which I did. That is where people are.
“Many people just stop working because they don’t have the criteria to work. The family I was talking about worked in a factory, and they stopped because of ICE. They started selling stuff from home.
“Another family cooks, and people start to come and pick it up from their house after they would have ordered online. There are many people with other serious experiences.”
Corroborating the senior immigrant’s explanation, the President of the Nigerian community in the State of Maryland, Mrs Chris Ademiluyi, said many immigrants had gone into hiding rather than returning to Nigeria.
Ademiluyi stated that despite the crackdown, the economic and security realities of Nigeria were not better.
“They are in hiding instead. Nigeria is not any better. Some people affected may want to talk anonymously, but they are not talking because of fear,” Ademiluyi said.
She added that her community supports Nigerian-Amerícans, and they were not mostly affected by the predicament.
Don’t bury yourself before death
Also, the Lead Pastor of the Lighthouse/Rejuvenation Church in Rosenberg Texas, Shola Adeoye, raised the alarm on Facebook that Nigerians were leaving the US.
The pastor said on Tuesday that Trump’s administration was forcing Nigerians to leave.
“Some Nigerians are moving back home due to fear of this administration. It’s not wise to bury yourself before death,” Adeoye said.
The post generated a lot of reactions on social media as Nigerians differed on the topic.
A Facebook user, Ben Ijeh, said, “Whoever that leaves involuntarily by ICE is not psychologically likely to want to come back in the future. The trauma will be too much to bear. God will always make a way for His own.”
“The way ICE agents capture people could be scary; they may not have the opportunity to get themselves together. So (it is) preferred to time their return home when they can control themselves,” Olukunle Durodolu, another Facebook user, said.
Visa ban at home, opportunity restrictions abroad
A non-profit immigration and cultural organisation based in Washington DC, the Nigerian Center, has recorded an influx of people seeking help over the crackdown by ICE.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Gbenga Ogunjimi, said a lot of Nigerians were suffering from the policy.
He noted that his group, with the collaborative efforts of others, had been providing education and awareness to immigrants.
Ogunjimi said, “The problem we are facing is multi-layered. There is a visa ban. So, let’s even zoom out a little bit. Before the visa ban, Nigeria was designated as a Country of Particular Concern. That was last year.
“Early in December 2025, the administration cited a number of factors, including the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, to move Nigeria to a partial ban. He suspended most visa categories as well as non-immigrant visas for folks in Nigeria to come here.”
He said the US government had denied Nigerian immigrants a lot of opportunities.
“What they did not tell those of us in America or Nigerians in America is that the ban will also stop their ability to file for citizenship, green cards, work authorisation, asylum, and things like that.
“So, we did a few things. Firstly, we thought the people should know. So, if you go to our website and social media, we put out a policy memo, educating people on the parameters of this ban.
“And then the second thing we’re doing is educating people on how to navigate this new terrain. We’re just giving information to folks. On the policy side of things, this is coming to us very soon, very rapidly. We’re working on a few items on the policy side of things.”
Saturday PUNCH gathered that many immigrants had started thinking of self-deportation.
The Nigerian Center founder affirmed that many Nigerians were weighing their options of staying back in the US or returning to Nigeria.
“We’ve seen cases where a lot of people are self-deporting right now.
“At the center, I’ve seen people who come in and say things like they just want to know what their options are.
“Some of them asked if they would be able to come back to the US if they leave. I will let them know what the options are, and what the law says about that.
“There was a case that I can think of most recently, where some people would advise them that they should not consider leaving the country right now, just because their situation was not as bad.
“They probably came here on a visiting visa. And maybe they have overstayed for a couple of days, maybe not months or years. And you can file a waiver for those if it’s not up to a particular time. So, it’s probably in your interest. We’ve advised people to do so based on their case.
“Now, do I have numbers of those who have actually gone back, and who have taken the advice? The answer is: I don’t know. I don’t have those numbers.”
Following Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent political alignment with the centre, renewed speculation has trailed the long-running Kano emirate crisis, with questions resurfacing over whether the development could alter the fate of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
However, the governor has dismissed any suggestion that the political shift could lead to the removal of Sanusi, insisting that the emir’s position remains secure and unchanged.
For close to two years, Kano has been locked in an unprecedented royal deadlock, with two emirs laying claim to the same exalted stool. Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, has continued to operate from the historic Gidan Rumfa palace, while Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, has remained at the Nassarawa mini-palace, each backed by rival political interests.
Sanusi, who was deposed in March 2020 by then governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and replaced with Bayero, was reinstated in May, 2024, by Governor Yusuf. The reinstatement followed the passage of the Kano State Emirates Councils (Repeal) Law 2024 by the state House of Assembly, which abolished the five emirates created under the 2019 law widely seen as instrumental to Sanusi’s initial removal.
By repealing that law, the Yusuf administration restored Kano to a single-emir structure, removing Bayero and the other first-class emirs appointed under the previous arrangement. Despite this, Bayero continued to lay claim to the throne, reportedly enjoying security backing and tacit recognition from some federal authorities, further deepening the crisis.
The prolonged standoff sharply divided loyalties within the revered emirate and fractured what had long been a closely knit royal family, as political interests increasingly shaped traditional allegiances.
Speculation intensifies after defection
Fresh permutations emerged earlier this week after Governor Yusuf defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that saw him align with former governor Ganduje, who is widely regarded as a key supporter of Bayero.
The defection also marked a major rupture between Yusuf and his former political benefactor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, under whose influence Sanusi was believed to have secured his reinstatement. This political realignment fuelled speculation that the emirate dispute could be revisited as part of broader reconciliation efforts within the APC.
Questions over the future of the two rival emirs gained further traction on Thursday after the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, hinted that the prolonged crisis might be nearing resolution.
Speaking on a radio programme in Kano, Waiya said the state government had put “concrete measures” in place to restore lasting peace and stability, adding that the “two emirs” stalemate was approaching its conclusion.
Though he offered no specifics, his remarks were widely interpreted to mean that the government could be exploring a political settlement, either through the reinstatement of Bayero and removal of Sanusi, or by retaining Sanusi while offering Bayero a face-saving exit, possibly through a federal appointment.
Social media platforms were soon awash with speculation, with many framing the development as a possible “second removal” of Sanusi, allegedly linked to the growing rift between Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso.
‘No plan to remove Sanusi’
But responding to the speculation, the governor on Friday categorically ruled out any plan to alter Sanusi’s status as Emir of Speaking exclusively to Weekend Trust through his spokesman, Sanusi Bature, the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kano Government House, Governor Yusuf said there was “absolutely no plan or agreement” that would lead to Sanusi’s removal.
“There is no plan to replace Emir Sanusi on the throne of Kano,” he said. “The appointment of the emir was done after the emirates law had been repealed, and there is no plan at the executive level for any further amendment.
“Emir Sanusi has been duly appointed in accordance with the repeal law, and this defection to the APC will not in any way change the status quo. Emir Sanusi remains the Emir of Kano. There is no move, no intention to substitute him.”
He described the renewed speculation as unfounded rumours being circulated by individuals “who do not mean well for Kano State”.
“People should disregard such rumours,” he said. “There must be a clear understanding of the distinction between institutions. The traditional institution is non-partisan. What His Excellency did was to restore the lost glory and integrity of that institution.”
On whether the government was engaging with the Bayero camp or those opposed to Sanusi’s reinstatement, Bature said no such outreach had begun.
“Not yet,” he said, adding, however, that the government was appealing to Bayero and his supporters to prioritise peace.
“We want to appeal to him and his co-sponsors to please, in the interest of peace, stability and economic prosperity of Kano State, distance themselves from the ongoing claim of awaiting reinstatement.”
‘Emirate issue not part of political deal’
Asked whether the emirate dispute featured in negotiations preceding the governor’s defection to the APC, Bature dismissed the suggestion, insisting the matter was not political.
“The emirate issue is not a political decision. It is the personal interest of some individuals,” he said. “It should not be discussed during a serious political decision like this.
“The governor has the constitutional right to appoint or remove an emir. That decision was taken long ago, and it is exclusive to him. For us, this issue is immaterial at this point.”
He also urged the former emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, to dissociate himself from the political manoeuvring.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, to recuse himself from being used by some people and to contribute positively to the Kano First agenda by ensuring political stability in the state,” he said.
On whether the government intended to extend an olive branch to those campaigning for Bayero’s reinstatement, Bature said identifying them posed a challenge.
“Some of them are faceless,” he said. “But this is a new era and a new beginning. His Excellency is willing to engage with anyone, directly or indirectly, who has something to contribute to Kano’s development. Kano comes first, above personal interest and politics.”
Legal battle remains unresolved
Beyond the political dimension, the emirate dispute also has a significant legal component. A key figure in the Bayero camp, Alhaji Aminu Babba Danagundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate and a kingmaker under Bayero, instituted a suit challenging the repeal of the emirate law and Bayero’s removal.
The case, which has moved through various courts, is currently awaiting final determination at the Supreme Court.
Speaking to Weekend Trust, Danagundi said there was no consensus arrangement that could remove the Ado Bayero family from the Kano throne.
However, Professor Tijjani Naniya, a historian and Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on the Kano State Emirates Council, said political interests, while inevitable, must operate within the confines of the law.
“The safest and most realistic option is consultation and consensus. If all parties agree that peace and stability in Kano are paramount, then a political settlement that respects the law is possible,” he said.
Sanusi ‘disturbed’ by developments – Emirates council member
A senior member of the Kano Emirate Council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Emir Sanusi had been unsettled by recent developments.
“If you observe closely, he has remained quiet for weeks, which is unusual for him,” the source said. “He is genuinely disturbed because he knows that in politics, anything is possible.”
The senior council member suggested that Sanusi’s recent return to formal education was not unrelated to the uncertainty.
“His decision to study law at a university within Kano is also strategic. Even if the worst happens, it strengthens the argument for him to remain in Kano without being banished,” the source said.
Residents express mixed reactions
Meanwhile, residents of Kano have expressed mixed reactions to renewed concerns that Aminu Ado Bayero could return as emir following the governor’s defection to the APC.
Some residents warned that reversing Sanusi’s reinstatement could reignite tensions in the state, noting that the crisis had become deeply entangled with partisan politics.
Musa Abdullahi, a trader at Kurmi Market, said many residents believed “Sanusi returned because of Kwankwaso’s influence. Now that the governor has moved to the APC, they are asking whether that influence still exists. But an emirate should not be treated like a political office.”
Others pointed to the legal framework as the decisive factor.
Zainab Sadiq, a businesswoman in Hotoro, said Sanusi’s reinstatement was grounded in law.
“Unless that law is reversed, I don’t see how Aminu Ado Bayero can return. Still, politics played a role, and that is why people are uneasy,” she said.
Some youths expressed concern that the perceived decline in Kwankwaso’s influence could weaken Sanusi’s position.
A youth activist, Suleiman Rabi’u, said the situation underscored the danger of politicising traditional institutions.
“Kwankwaso played a major role in Sanusi’s return, and that is no secret,” he said. “Now that the political relationship has changed, people are afraid Sanusi may no longer enjoy protection. Emirate matters should be separated from party politics.”
Others like Hauwa Lawan, a housewife, called for restraint and respect for due process, adding that residents were weary of the prolonged crisis.
“Ordinary people just want peace. Let the courts decide, and everyone should respect the outcome,” she added.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has applied to the National Industrial Court for an order to commit striking workers of the territory to prison over their alleged disobedience of a court directive.
The minister, through his counsel, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, obtained form 48 for consequences of disobedience of court order, which would be served on the striking workers.
“Take note that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of Justice E.D. Subilim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered 27th day of January 2026, you will be guilty of the contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.” part of the form read.
The notice of consequence of disobedience of order of the court, dated January 29, was signed by the Registrar of the Industrial Court, Mr Olajide Balogun.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim had on Tuesday ordered the workers to call off the strike immediately until the determination of the claims to prevent the crippling of government business in the territory if the strike was prolonged while the court was seized of the matter.
Justice Subilim held that, although strike was a right of workers to express their grievance, its adoption is not absolute.
Citing Section 18(1)b of the Trade Dispute Act, the judge said workers cannot embark on an industrial action over a dispute that had already been referred to the National Industrial Court.
In the originating summons, the minister contended that the strike was not in compliance with the Trade Disputes Act, adding that the Joint Unions Action Committee is not a registered trade union.
The case has been adjourned to March 25 for hearing.
Apart from being the architect of the coup, the infantry officer is believed to have bankrolled the process.
by Yakubu Mohammed
Mohammed Ma’aji, a colonel in the Nigerian Army, has been identified by military investigators as the major leader of the botched coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Apart from being the alleged architect of the coup, the infantry officer is believed by investigators to have bankrolled the process.
In late September 2025, military authorities started arresting senior officers suspected of involvement in the coup, including Mr Ma’aji. By early October of that year, 16 officers had been arrested and detained in connection with the coup plot.
Initially, military authorities were reluctant to admit the coup plot, claiming that the officers were being investigated for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
President Tinubu later sacked service chiefs, retaining only Olufemi Oluyede and Emmanuel Undiandeye.
While Mr Oluyede, formerly the Chief of Army Staff, was appointed as Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding Christopher Musa, Mr Undiandeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
However, amid the tension of Christian genocide claims by US President Donald Trump, Mr Musa was called back and appointed as Minister of Defence. He replaced Muhammed Badaru, who said he resigned on health grounds.
Two months later, the military confirmed the coup report, noting the officers involved will face trial.
Col. Ma’aji: The man behind the coup plot
Military sources who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said investigators believed that Mr Ma’aji played a key role as a strategist in the coup plot, coordinating planning and logistics.
Another source said Mr Ma’aji was strategic in his planning, citing his earlier efforts to be posted to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“There was a time he was seeking powerful connections to secure a posting to the ONSA,” the source said, believing that it may be “part of the plan.”
Financial trails have also placed him at the centre of the investigation, one source said.
“He was responsible for transferring funds to co-plotters,” the source said.
One of the transactions under scrutiny is reportedly connected to Timi Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, with whom Mr Ma’aji is believed to have maintained a long-standing relationship from his years of service in the Niger Delta.
Following the arrests of Mr Ma’aji and his alleged co-plotters, investigators searched the residence of Mr Sylva in Abuja, raising suspicions about his involvement as a civilian collaborator in the foiled coup.
Mr Sylva’s spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, in a statement, denied his principal’s involvement in the matter.
Mr Bokoru described his principal as “an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat” who has consistently supported President Tinubu.
Our sources said those who have interacted with Mr Ma’aji since his arrest described him as unrepentant and emotionally detached, showing little visible remorse as investigations continue.
One source said he was not cooperating with investigators.
Who is Mr Ma’aji?
Mr Ma’aji, whose service number is N/10668, was born on 1 March 1976.
A Nupe native from Edati Local Government of Niger State, he began his military training on 18 August 1995 and completed it on 16 September 2000 as a member of the 47 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Mr Ma’aji built much of his operational experience in the Niger Delta, an oil-rich region that later became central to his professional and political networks.
He participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II in 2017, a major Nigerian Army exercise designed to address militancy, oil theft and insecurity in the Niger Delta and parts of the South-west.
He also served at the Depot Nigerian Army, later becoming Commander, Operation Delta Safe, and at different times held sensitive operational responsibilities.
The officer was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2013 and to full colonel in 2017. At the time of his arrest, the 49-year-old officer was serving as the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
The coup was initially scheduled for 29 May 2023 during the presidential inauguration, sources told this newspaper.
by Kabir Yusuf
As Nigerians prepared for the transfer of power on 29 May 2023, a group of military officers was quietly plotting to overthrow the country’s democracy and assassinate key political figures.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the coup plotters planned to violently disrupt the handover of power from former President Muhammadu Buhari to President Bola Tinubu.
Our sources said the failed plot was allegedly masterminded by Alhassan Ma’aji, a colonel with service number N/10668. Born on 1st March 1976, the Nupe native from Niger State started training on 18 August 1995 and finished on 16 September 2000.
The coup was initially scheduled for 29 May 2023 during the presidential inauguration. However, the plan was suspended due to insufficient funds and inadequate logistical arrangements, our sources said.
The conspirators then reactivated their plans in 2025 after a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, who was accused of bankrolling the coup plotters, allegedly transferred almost N1 billion in multiple tranches to three separate bank accounts operated by a Bureau De Change operator.
Mr Sylva, 61, from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was later declared wanted by the EFCC last year. Before the declaration, the former governor had his home raided by soldiers investigating the failed plot to topple President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Sylva confirmed the raid at the time but denied any involvement in a coup attempt.
The Mastermind
Mr Ma’aji, the alleged mastermind of the coup, is a member of the infantry corps. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2013 and to full colonel four years later. The 49-year-old officer was the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army based in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
He took part in Operation Crocodile Smile II, a Nigerian Army military exercise conducted in 2017 to address security challenges in the Niger Delta and parts of the South-west. He also served at Depot, Nigerian Army and later as Commander, Operation Delta Safe.
He was a member of the 47 Regular Course of the NDA.
Assassination Targets
Mr Ma’aji and the other military officers allegedly planned a violent takeover in which top government officials were marked for elimination.
Earlier, government sources briefed on the investigation told this newspaper that the alleged plotters planned to assassinate President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
After further investigation, PREMIUM TIMES can now report that the coupists also targeted Service Chiefs, Commander, Guards Brigade, among others, for assassination.
Some officers were assigned to take full control of the Presidential Villa, the Niger Barracks, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) Complex, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
How the coup plan was foiled
PREMIUM TIMES reported that a covert intelligence operation coordinated by the Army Headquarters and the State Security Service (SSS) helped thwart the deadly plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.
Multiple senior administration insiders said the plot began to unravel in late September 2025 after an unnamed military officer with direct knowledge of the coup contacted the then Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede.
The officer reportedly disclosed the scheme, saying he feared being implicated as an accessory to treason if he failed to alert authorities.
Our sources said around the same time, the SSS independently gathered intelligence indicating that some serving army officers were plotting to “destabilise the government and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.” An official familiar with the matter said the Director-General of the SSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, personally briefed Mr Oluyede on the findings.
Faced with converging intelligence from multiple sources, the two security chiefs agreed to act swiftly. A wide-ranging but discreet joint operation was launched by the army and the SSS, with coordinated arrests planned across different parts of the country to neutralise the coup’s masterminds and other collaborators.
Following the initial arrests, President Tinubu was formally informed of the foiled plot. A visibly shaken president immediately ordered the cancellation of the 1 October National Independence Day parade. He also approved the constitution of a special investigative panel, which later led to additional arrests.
The investigative panel was led by an army general who is the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye. One of the detained soldiers later escaped custody but was rearrested by SSS operatives in Bauchi, a military insider said. Meanwhile, a retired officer identified as General Adamu and former governor Sylva, accused of bankrolling the coup plotters, remain at large.
Mr Tinubu later fired and retired the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Musa, as well as the chiefs of the Navy and Air Force. Mr Oluyede was appointed CDS and promoted to the rank of General. Weeks later, Mr Musa returned to government as Minister of Defence.
In a statement issued on 4 October 2025, the Defence Headquarters said the arrested officers were being investigated for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” It added that preliminary findings suggested the officers’ grievances were linked to “career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.”
In an 18 October statement, the Defence Headquarters described the probe involving the 16 arrested officers as a routine internal investigation aimed at maintaining discipline and professionalism within the armed forces.
However, on 26 January, the military publicly acknowledged for the first time that officers had indeed plotted to illegally overthrow President Tinubu’s administration. It announced that those indicted would be arraigned before a military judicial panel.
In its statement, the Defence Headquarters said the investigation has been completed and forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
According to the military, the investigation was “comprehensive” and conducted in line with established procedures, examining “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.”
The military disclosed that the findings identified “several officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing such conduct as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
Some workers have expressed mixed and largely underwhelming reactions to recent changes in their take-home pay following the implementation of new Personal Income Tax reforms, with many stating that the increases are marginal and insufficient to meaningfully alleviate economic pressures.
According to The PUNCH, the new tax reform laws introduce several adjustments to the PIT regime. Individuals earning the national minimum wage or less are now exempt from personal income tax, while employees with an annual gross income of up to N1.2m, equivalent to about N800,000 in taxable income, are also exempt. The reforms further provide for reduced Pay-As-You-Earn tax for those earning up to N20m annually and exempt gifts from taxation.
Despite these changes, several workers told The PUNCH on Monday that the impact on their salaries has been modest. A banker, Adetunji Morgan, said his salary rose by about N5,000 following the adjustment. “Yes, the salary increased. I think it increased by about N5,000 for me,” he said.
A Lagos State civil servant, Adedayo Lawal, said it was difficult to determine the exact effect of the PAYE reduction on his earnings without reviewing his payslip. He explained that a Yuletide allowance paid in December further complicated the assessment. “We were given a Yuletide allowance in December, but only 50 per cent of it was paid, with a promise that the second part would be paid this month,” he said, adding that he was not expecting a significant increase.
Similarly, Tolulope Ifeanyi, an employee in the financial services sector, described the increment as minimal. “Mine increased, oh, just a little, sha,” she said.
For a media practitioner, Joshua Austin, the increase was symbolic rather than impactful. “My salary increased, but it is not enough to buy me shawarma for one evening,” he said, noting that a wrap of his preferred shawarma costs N2,500. “As for an increase, yes, it increased, but what is the value of the increase?”
A verified X user, Gabriel Bolatito, also acknowledged the marginal change, stating that while the reduction in PAYE was small, it aligned with prior expectations and resulted in a slight net increase.
“I received my salary last week, and my take-home pay is slightly higher than before. It’s not a huge change, but it helps cover some of the rising costs of living,” said Uchechi Nwankamma, a contract staff at Access Bank in Lagos earning between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly.
From a cross-section of employees interviewed by The PUNCH across the public and private sectors, salary increments reportedly ranged from N6,000 and N5,000 to as low as N3,000, N1,443 and even N400.
Reacting to the feedback, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said the committee had received confirmations from workers who noticed reductions in their PAYE tax. In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Oyedele wrote, “We are pleased to note the feedback from workers who have received their salaries for January 2026 and confirmed a reduction in their PAYE tax, resulting in higher take-home pay under the new tax laws.”
He added that the committee, in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board, would host an engagement session with HR directors, payroll managers, chief financial officers, tax managers and other senior executives responsible for employee compensation and payroll tax compliance. The session, scheduled for Wednesday, is aimed at ensuring proper understanding and implementation of the reforms, he said.
However, reactions in the comment section of Oyedele’s post suggested that not all workers benefited from the changes. Some netizens complained of higher tax deductions and reduced take-home pay. Rasha (@rasha2you) wrote, “Why is my take-home lesser? Stop acting like it’s everyone paying less tax I beg.” Another user, ‘Odogwu’ Michael, said his tax increased despite earning barely enough to cover basic needs, while High Bee (@ibukun36180571) stated that there was no reduction in his tax and that his salary had declined.
Addressing concerns about employees who may experience a reduction in net pay, Partner, Tax Reporting and Strategy at PwC, Kenneth Erikume, explained the implications of the graduated tax structure at the 2026 Nigeria Economic Outlook organised by FirstBank. He noted that income up to N800,000 is now exempt, with tax rates applying progressively thereafter, and income above N50m taxed at 25 per cent.
Erikume said that, assuming no significant reliefs are claimed, individuals earning below N25m annually are likely to see an increase in take-home pay due to reduced taxes, while those earning above N25m would face higher tax obligations and reduced net income. He added that organisations would need to consider how to manage this differential from a human capital perspective.
“Staff earning below N25m will retain the benefit, and that cannot be clawed back. However, for staff earning above N25m, the question becomes whether the company will absorb part of the increased tax burden through a payroll review aligned with this change,” he said, stressing that payroll adjustments are an urgent issue that organisations must address immediately.
Developmental economist Dr Aliyu Ilias said the policy was initially presented as progressive, but early implementation suggests otherwise.
“Recent developments particularly charges applied to USSD transactions and other bank services show that a 7.5 per cent levy is being imposed across multiple layers,” Ilias told The PUNCH.
“This suggests that the policy may, in fact, negatively affect people. Individuals who adjusted their spending in anticipation of reduced costs are now facing higher charges, which could strain household finances and weaken purchasing power.”
The reforms were not without controversy. Lawmakers had raised concerns over discrepancies between gazetted and parliamentary versions of the laws, prompting official clarifications and certified publications. Despite these concerns, the government pressed ahead, stressing that the measures are essential to enhance disposable income and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies in tax collection.
Describing the situation as “an unfortunate reality,” Ilias said the National Assembly could amend the framework to address emerging distortions.
“If we examine the current trajectory, we can identify specific issues that require further review,” he added, urging policymakers to monitor challenges as implementation continues. “Overall, however, we believe we are doing good work.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has upgraded the licenses of major FinTech companies and Microfinance Banks, including Opay and Moniepoint, to national status, allowing them to operate across the country following compliance with regulatory requirements.
The upgrade applies to key players such as Moniepoint MFB, Opay, Kuda Bank, Palmpay, and Paga, which have grown rapidly through mobile technology and agent networks, effectively outgrowing their previous regional licenses.
Director of the Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, Yemi Solaja, confirmed this development in Lagos at the annual conference of the Committee of Heads of Banks’ Operations,
He said: “Institutions like Moniepoint MFB, Opay, Kuda Bank, and others have now been upgraded. In practice, their operations are already nationwide.”
Solaja emphasized the importance of physical presence for customer support, noting “Most of their customers operate in the informal sector. They need a clear point of contact if any issues arise.”
With national licenses, these FinTechs are subject to higher capital requirements, for example, N5 billion for national MFBs, and must maintain offices for dispute resolution while continuing to drive financial inclusion.
The reform follows previous enforcement actions, including 2024 penalties of N1 billion each on Moniepoint and Opay for KYC non-compliance, underscoring the CBN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen standards in digital finance.
Panic as Nigerian authorities move to debit personal bank accounts over unpaid taxes
Nigerians face yet another controversy surrounding the country’s tax laws amid Lagos Internal Revenue Service’s notice on the tax law implementation.
LIRS, in a notice seen by DAILY POST at the weekend, disclosed that the tax institution has power enshrined to it by Section 60 of the Nigeria Tax Act Administration to recoup unpaid tax through direct bank debit.
The Nigeria Revenue Service and the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee have not debunked the report.
The chairman of the committee, Taiwo Oyedele, referred DAILY POST to his X statement, which noted that the move is the last resort for the tax authority.
“The power of substitution is a tax recovery mechanism that permits the tax authority to issue a directive to a third party (a ‘substitute’) to remit funds belonging to a defaulting taxpayer to settle a final, established, and unpaid tax liability.
“This power is only exercised after all legal and administrative processes, including appeals to the courts, have been exhausted,” he said in a reply to a frequently asked question on X.
He further explained that the power of arbitrary substitution is neither arbitrary nor discretionary, stressing that its use is strictly governed by due process.
Meanwhile, the latest clarification falls short of his earlier position, which states that the new tax laws did not empower anybody, federal, state, or local government councils, to debit personal accounts.
Meanwhile, economists and financial experts poured out their thoughts on the development.
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf noted that there is a need to reconcile the conflicting positions.
Reacting to the development, Yusuf said while tax reforms were necessary, the issue of tax authorities directly accessing bank accounts required clearer explanations to avoid creating fear and confusion among Nigerians.
He noted that apprehension over the policy has already triggered panic in some quarters, with reports of individuals withdrawing funds from banks due to fears of arbitrary debits.
According to him, such reactions underscored the need for better communication by authorities championing the reforms.
Yusuf warned that debiting bank accounts over tax liabilities raises critical questions about ownership of funds in such accounts.
He explained that money held in an individual’s account may not necessarily belong to that person, as it could be funds from contractors, suppliers, or third parties.
He stressed that these concerns, if not properly addressed, could undermine public confidence in the tax reform agenda and negatively affect financial inclusion.
According to him, fear of account debits could drive people to keep cash at home or convert their savings into foreign currencies, thereby weakening trust in the banking system.
Dr. Yusuf added that from his understanding, such drastic enforcement measures should only occur with a clear court order authorizing the action, describing judicial oversight as essential in managing such sensitive matters.
He said, “I think it’s important that we reconcile those two positions. Because I know that, because of the apprehension that people have, one of the apprehensions was about the fact that the tax authorities can have access and begin to tamper with people’s accounts.
“You know that fear was expressed by a lot of people. It was so bad that some people were even taking their money away from the bank.
“But I’m not sure he did not address this aspect of the fact that if there is a liability, the tax authorities can go and be, you know, debiting people’s accounts. That, of course, requires a lot more clarification, especially from those who are championing tax reform.
“Because these are the kinds of things that are making people apprehensive about tax reform. Because if you say you want to debit people’s accounts, what is the guarantee that the amount in the person’s account is the person’s money?
“You know? It could be other people’s money. It could be a contractor. It could be a supplier.
“Somebody put money in your account, and you now have a tax authority saying because you are owing money, you have an asset.
“It is not your asset. It may not be your asset. That’s the point I’m making.
“So these are some of the challenges. Because when people begin to accept fiat and are concerned about it, these are part of the issue.
“It’s not helping the whole idea of promoting tax reform. I mean, this is not the kind of thing to be amplifying. It’s not good for what the federal government is trying to do, trying to push the reform.
“Otherwise, you scare people away. People could begin now to take their money out.
“People could begin now to convert their money into other currencies and take it, keeping it at home. And you know, all these financial inclusion issues could lead to it.
“It could create a financial inclusion problem. So this is why some of us feel that we have to manage this process very, very carefully. Because these are very sensitive issues.
“And I think I heard one time that this kind of action cannot take place unless there is a clear court order that gives that kind of approval. That is what I heard them say. That it is to be authorized by the court.
“We have to go to court, and the court will take a position that this is it. And that is when some of these extreme actions can be taken,” he told DAILY POST in an interview on Monday.
On his part, the former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mazi Okechukwu, described the move as dangerous, warning that it could create long-term instability in the financial system.
Unegbu also questioned the legal basis for the action, stating that, from his interpretation of existing laws, government agencies are not empowered to arbitrarily debit bank accounts without due process.
He warned that if unchecked, such practices could damage the credibility of both the tax system and the financial sector.
Both experts urged authorities to manage the tax reform process carefully, emphasizing that enforcement strategies must balance revenue generation with the need to protect public confidence and financial stability.
“We are creating a monster here.
“I think they are doing the wrong thing. They are doing it, and that’s why I think the law has to stop them,” he told DAILY POST.
DAILY POST recalls the new tax laws have been trailed with controversies, including claims that their gazetted version was altered.
Ongoing military air strikes and ground operations have targeted terrorist camps in parts of Edu, Ifelodun and Patigi Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
Several kidnappers and terrorists were neutralised during the coordinated offensive.
It was gathered that concerns were raised over the activities of moles and informants within some communities that has hampered the effective coordination.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday.
“These informants provide advance information on troop movements, thereby hampering the effectiveness of the operation,” it added.
According to the statement, the military operations hit bandits’ hideouts in Baba Sango area of Ifelodun, Gbugbu axis of Edu and Lata community in Patigi.
“The ongoing air strikes and ground operations have successfully targeted terrorist camps across the affected areas.
“The operation, carried out under Operation India, forced the terrorists to abandon several positions.
“It is obvious that Operation India has thrown the bandits into disarray and displaced them from their hideouts,” it noted.
It said “Many of the terrorist camps were destroyed during the operation with several of the bandits sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
“The military urged residents of the affected communities to remain vigilant.
“Community cooperation is critical. Residents must speak up and expose those aiding criminals with information.” it added.
Makinde to Osinbajo: I miss you as VP… things are not the same in this administration
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says he misses former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s leadership.
Makinde spoke on Saturday at the 60th birthday celebration of Samson Ajetomobi, president of The Men of Issachar Vision Incorporated (MIV) and overseer of the Redemption Faith Churches, in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, where Osinbajo was also in attendance.
“Sir, I personally miss you in that position (as vice president),” Makinde told Osinbajo.
“A lot of people may not know why things are not really the same. It’s not a political talk because I’m not on that podium.”
Makinde recalled how Osinbajo’s decision prevented him from locking Oyo state down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I remember I was barely seven months into the position of the governor of Oyo state and that was my very first public service job. And we had a crisis in the country; this was February 2020,” the governor said.
“There was Covid, and we came in for the national economic council meeting. It was a hot meeting; the chairman of the council (Osinbajo) came in and a few of my colleagues. I wasn’t sure whether they held a meeting before that meeting, but they came in and said we should all go back and lock down our state.
“So, for Oyo state people, why I did not lock down during Covid was because of his decision.”
Makinde contrasted this ease of decision with President Bola Tinubu’s refusal to withdraw the tax bill, criticising the administration’s handling of the matter.
“But we had the same situation in this dispensation; it was the tax bill, and we said, ‘Look, bring the tax bill; bring it back; let us all have an opportunity to look dispassionately at it,’ but you cannot speak truth to power in this dispensation; the tax bill will go ahead.”
Makinde has long opposed Tinubu’s tax reforms.
Last September, the governor declined assent to the bill after passage by the state assembly, insisting that it would impose additional burdens on the poor who were already struggling due to the current economic reality in the country.
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a newly married woman over the alleged poisoning of her husband in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shiisu Lawan Adam, the command said the incident occurred on January 23, 2026, at about 5 pm.
According to the police, “the Jigawa State Police Command recorded a tragic incident involving the death of a newly wedded man who allegedly died after consuming a poisoned meal prepared by his wife.”
The statement said preliminary findings showed that the man ate lunch at home before falling seriously ill.
“The deceased reportedly took his lunch at home, after which he fell seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Sadly, he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment,” the police said.
Following the report, detectives from the Jahun Division moved in and arrested the wife as the prime suspect.
The police added that during questioning, “the suspect allegedly confessed to poisoning her husband’s food with rat poison.” She also claimed that “she sent her cousin to purchase the rat poison used in committing the act.”
The suspect further told investigators that she was forced into the marriage by her parents, a situation she said pushed her to act.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for a detailed investigation.
The statement said that after the investigation, the suspect will be charged in court for prosecution.
The police urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, while advising people to seek legal means to resolve family and marital issues.
“The police further advise against taking laws into one’s hands, as such actions often result in irreversible consequences,” the command warned.
The police also assured the public of their commitment to justice and the protection of lives and property across Jigawa State.
Usman Dakingari, former Kebbi governor, was likely excited when the presidency announced his name on Thursday as the ambassador-designate to Turkey — one week before President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled visit to the foreign country.
But less than one hours after announcing Dakingari’s ambassadorial posting, presidency made a U-turn.
In a statement released Friday by the State House, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey. The presidency did not give a reason for the sudden change.
Other ambassadorial postings on the list — Kayode Are (US), Ayodele Oke (France), and Amin Dalhatu (UK) — were ratified. The presidency did not give a reason for Dakingari’s withdrawal from posting.
This development is not a one-off.
Since the beginning of his administration, Tinubu has reversed several high-profile appointments and policies, often just days after they were announced by the presidency. What should signal stability in governance has instead created uncertainty. From regulatory agencies to political boards, appointees barely settle into their offices before being shown the way out.
These repeated recalls and corrections have raised questions about the presidency’s decision-making process: whether the reversals reflect responsiveness to administrative needs or point to a lack of due diligence at the highest levels of the presidency. What behind-the-scenes events determine who influenced the appointments, who stays, who goes, and why?
2. 15% FUEL DUTY
In October, Tinubu approved a 15 percent import duty on petrol and diesel. The president gave the approval after a request by FIRS to apply the 15 percent duty on the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) to align import costs to domestic realities.
The president also directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to issue appropriate regulations to guide the policy, ensuring that local production is prioritised before the issuance of import licences.
A month later, the decision was reversed. The NMDPRA said the duty would not be implemented.
3. NTA APPOINTMENTS
When President Bola Tinubu made some key appointments “with immediate effect” for the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) on August 20, he said the move reaffirmed his “commitment to strengthening national broadcasting as a platform for unity, cohesion, and soft diplomacy”.
Hence, Rotimi Pedro, with over 20 years of broadcasting experience, was appointed director-general of NTA. Pedro said his mission was to save the media agency from being “a dying brand” through the deployment of technology, innovation, and building a sustainable audience.
Stella Din-Jacob, who served as director of news and editor-in-chief at Television Continental (TVC) for the past seven years, wrote on her LinkedIn page last week that she was “happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Executive Director (News) at Nigerian Television Authority”.
She “embraced the new role” and wrote emotional farewell messages to her colleagues at TVC.
“This new chapter at NTA is both humbling and weighty,” Din-Jacob added.
But barely two weeks later, while her profile still bears this new title, the president reversed the appointments — hers, Pedro’s, and that of Karimah Bello, who was appointed executive director of marketing.
The president, instead, returned the old guards back to their positions. What does this mean for the commitment he made to transform the NTA?
4. DANKAKA REAPPOINTED AND DISAPPOINTED
Dankaka’s appointment didn’t last for 24 hours In August, Tinubu reappointed Muheeba Dankaka for a second five-year term as the chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).
The president also appointed Mohammed Musa as the commission’s secretary and retained Kayode Oladele from Ogun as commissioner.
But a few hours later, Tinubu relieved Dankaka of her role and announced Ayo Omidiran, a former house of representatives member, as her replacement.
The presidency did not give explanations for the reversal. It was unclear if the recall had any connection to accusations of high-handedness and job racketeering against Dankaka in 2023.
5. IN NDDC, PARTY MEMBERSHIP TAKES SUPREMACY
Okang, a PDP member, was also kicked out In 2024, Tinubu appointed Asu Okang, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The development sparked protests in some quarters. Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) converged at the government house in Calabar, Cross River, to express their reservations.
Subsequently, Tinubu replaced Okang with Orok Otuk Duke.
The APC in Ondo had also rejected Victor Akinjo’s nomination to the NDDC board, saying it could “demoralise” members who “greatly contributed to the success of the ruling party during the elections”.
The president also approved the replacement of Akinjo with Otito Atikase.
6. CBN BOARD APPOINTMENT WITHDRAWN
Ruby Onwudiwe’s appointment as a board member of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was withdrawn following concerns raised over her affiliation with the Labour Party.
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were said to have mounted pressure on Tinubu over Onwudiwe’s open support for the opposition party in the 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu, who asked the senate to confirm the appointment of Onwudiwe on March 14, reportedly requested that the senate step down Onwudiwe’s nomination.
She is not listed as a board member on the apex bank’s website.
On March 12, Tinubu nominated Melvin Ayogu to the board of the CBN to fill the vacant seat from the south-east. Ayogu was confirmed on March 25.
7. INEC REC APPOINTMENTS
On March 18, Tinubu asked the senate to reverse the appointments of Mohammad Ngoshe (Borno) and Owede Kosioma Eli (Bayelsa) as resident electoral commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The reversal came just six days after the president had nominated them. In their place, Umar Mukhtar, the sitting REC for Borno, was reappointed for a second term, while Johnson Alalibo Silnikiem was named REC for Bayelsa.
Tinubu explained that the change became necessary after he decided to renew Mukhtar’s tenure.
8. YOUNGEST FERMA CHAIR, SHORTEST REIGN
Imam was said to be inexperienced and his appointment reversed On October 13, 2023, 24-year-old Ibrahim Kashim Imam was appointed chairperson of the board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
His nomination immediately sparked controversy as concerns were raised over his age and experience. Iman was, at the time, serving as an aide to David Umahi, minister of works.
Two days later, his appointment was withdrawn by the president. No reason was given for the withdrawal.
9. IDRIS OLORUNNIMBE REPLACED AS UBEC CHAIR
Olorunnimbe; In, out and back again Idris Olorunnimbe was appointed as chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) board by Tinubu on March 11.
However, in July, his appointment was withdrawn, and he was replaced by Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa.
A month later, Tinubu reappointed Olorunnimbe as chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
10. MARYAM SHETTY LEARNT OF HER REPLACEMENT AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY GATE
One of the earliest and most controversial appointment turnarounds by Tinubu is the reversal of the ministerial nomination of Maryam Shetty.
Shetty was met with disappointment when he appeared at the national assembly for screening Shetty was among the 37 ministerial nominees sent to the senate for screening in the third month of Tinubu’s presidency.
The Kano-born politician arrived at the national assembly on August 4 for her screening, but was told at the gate of the senate that her name had been replaced with that of Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, another nominee from the state.
No reason or explanation was given for the reversal.
While the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was infamous for making posthumous appointments, the Tinubu regime may just have carved its niche in the reversal of appointments.
For Nigerians already wary of politics, the trend of withdrawn and reversed appointments is deepening doubts about the steadiness of the current administration.
Every nomination announced and later retracted chips away at confidence in the government’s judgement, fuelling the perception of a presidency that decides in haste and corrects in confusion.
11. A CASE OF TWO POSTMASTERS-GENERAL
In October 2023, there was chaos at the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) when two individuals claimed the position of the postmaster general.
In an announcement made by Ajuri Ngelale, then presidential spokesperson, as part of the leadership shuffle implemented for agencies and parastatals under the ministry of communications, innovations and digital economy, Tinubu relieved Adeyemi Adepoju from his role and appointed Tola Odeyemi as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of NIPOST.
However, in another statement published on NIPOST’s official X account, the agency said the president had reinstated Adepoju. Meanwhile, the presidency did not release an official statement confirming the reinstatement of Adepoju as the postmaster general of NIPOST.
Despite an initial pushback by members of staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Odeyemi assumed duty as the agency’s postmaster general.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a legal practitioner specialising in business law, Emmanuel Omirin, said accidental transfers have become increasingly common, particularly among frequent transactors and users with limited digital literacy.
He noted that a single slip could redirect funds to an unintended recipient, but stressed that the law provides safeguards for victims of such mistakes.
“The first step is to formally notify the recipient’s bank, either by visiting a branch or using available reporting channels. The sender should provide the date and time of the transaction, the recipient’s name and account number, the amount involved, and supporting documents,” Omirin said.
“Once the report is processed, the bank may place a Post No Debit on the recipient’s account pending investigation and recovery. This is intended to preserve the funds and prevent further transfers.”
However, he explained that a PND imposed without a court order is only temporary, adding that the bank’s action is protected under its statutory obligation to mitigate financial risks, as provided for under Sections 7 and 18(6)(m) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Omirin also urged senders to notify their own banks with the same evidence, so both institutions can liaise effectively.
The lawyer criticised what he described as the sluggish response of some banks to reports of erroneous transfers.
“It often takes repeated follow-ups before action is taken, and that needs to change. The next option is to obtain a court order. The sender’s lawyer applies to the court by way of a motion on notice, supported with evidence. The court then reviews the application and may issue a reversal order.”
He added that there is also a non-litigation option under the Regulation on Instant (Inter-Bank) Electronic Funds Transfer Services in Nigeria.
“Under this framework, the sender reports the issue to their bank if the beneficiary refuses to refund. The sender’s bank then notifies the recipient’s bank, which is required to place a lien on the funds for up to two weeks and seek the beneficiary’s consent to reverse the money.”
If the beneficiary refuses, Omirin said the internal auditors of both banks are mandated to mediate within two weeks, with the outcome deemed final.
“Where the beneficiary has already withdrawn the funds or refuses to fund the account for a refund, the recipient’s BVN may be watch-listed, and the matter may be escalated to law enforcement by the sender’s bank,” he added.
Legal implications
Omirin stressed that while receiving money in error is not a crime, refusing to return it could attract criminal liability.
“It is criminal to convert property that does not belong to you. Blocking the owner, withdrawing the funds, or frustrating recovery can make the recipient culpable,” he said.
He explained that such conduct may fall under Section 383 of the Criminal Code, which defines stealing to include fraudulent conversion.
“Refusing to refund an erroneous transfer amounts to conversion rather than taking. If Mr A blocks Mr B, withdraws the money, or otherwise frustrates recovery, the law may infer an intention to permanently deprive the rightful owner,” Omirin said.
He noted that under the Penal Code, the offence attracts up to five years’ imprisonment, with an order for restitution, while under the Criminal Code, it is a felony punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment if no other penalty is prescribed.
Petty trader returns N330m
Although some citizens have chosen to take over money wrongly credited to their accounts, there have also been notable instances of individuals who returned such funds without pressure.
On December 30, 2025, a petty trader in Lapai, Niger State, Aisha Yelwa, was at a market purchasing new items for her shop when she noticed an unusual credit in her bank account.
The 41-year-old mother of six discovered that a staggering N330m had been mistakenly paid into her account.
Her decision to return the money came to public attention on January 1, after a community media platform, Lapai TV, reported how she walked into her bank branch in Lapai Local Government Area to refund the entire sum.
Despite being weighed down by debt and facing pressure from some individuals to remain silent and keep the money, Yelwa said she chose to return it.
“I don’t even know if I will ever see that kind of money again,” she told NTA News. “I didn’t even receive an alert, so I initially thought it was fake. It was only when I transferred N1m from it into another account that I realised the money was real.
“I cannot take what is not mine. People may praise me if I keep it, but if I die, who will bear the consequences? Since I returned from the bank, everyone has been blaming me for giving it back, but I don’t need money; what I need is peace in my life,” she added.
Also recounting a similar experience, a finance educator, Opeyemi Agboluaje, said his wife recently transferred N60,000 to a wrong mobile wallet account while attempting to move funds between her accounts.
“Panic set in as soon as we realised the mistake. We immediately called the recipient, a man named Uthman Ademola. To our relief, he answered, confirmed receiving the money, and assured us he would never keep what did not belong to him,” Agboluaje said.
“He returned N40,000 immediately, explaining that he had reached his transaction limit for the day. I was torn between hope and doubt, but to my surprise, Uthman stayed awake until midnight just to refund the remaining balance.”
VICTOR AYENI examines how accidental bank transfers are becoming a troubling feature of Nigeria’s cashless economy, where some recipients quickly spend, hide, and a worrying few brazenly refuse to refund money sent in error to their accounts
When Richard Okoye received a credit alert of about N300,000 on his phone one morning, he stared at the screen in disbelief.
As it turned out, the money had been mistakenly transferred into his account by the old-generation bank he used.
For a schoolteacher surviving on modest wages, the sudden windfall felt like a rare stroke of fortune. His wife, however, was less persuaded. With a mix of suspicion and curiosity, she asked where the money had come from. Okoye had no clear answer.
All he knew was that the alert carried the name of his bank and that no explanation accompanied it.
At first, doubt lingered. He suspected it might be an error. But caution soon gave way to excitement.
Within hours, the then 39-year-old made his way to the nearest ATM and withdrew a large portion of the money.
What followed was a spending spree driven by relief and delight: a hurried trip to the market to purchase items he had long postponed, followed by a stop at a nearby pub, where drinks flowed freely.
To Okoye, the money felt almost divine, reminiscent of the biblical account of the prophet Elijah, sustained in famine by bread and meat delivered by ravens.
But this providence, it turned out, came with consequences.
After about three months, the bank called Richard and asked him to return the money, explaining that it had been transferred to his account in error.
“That was when he called me and asked for N300,000, but I couldn’t raise the money. All I had was for my building project at the time.
“The bank was threatening to arrest him. In fact, they had already reported him to the police, and the police had started calling him on the phone, too.
“After much stress, he refunded the money to the bank; otherwise, he would have been arrested, charged in court, and jailed. His experience was eye-opening,” one of his relatives, Benjamin, recounted to Saturday PUNCH.
‘I sent N500,500 instead of N50,500’
On November 21 last year, a legal practitioner, Ibrahim Lawal, was in Benin City, Edo State, where he attended the Nigerian Bar Association National Executive Council meeting.
While in the city, the chairman of the NBA Ibadan branch stopped at a market, where he patronised a palm oil seller and paid via bank transfer to a Point of Sale terminal.
Driven by Central Bank of Nigeria initiatives, POS agents have become ubiquitous in Nigerian markets, offering digital services such as cash withdrawals, transfers and bill payments, far beyond simple cash access.
“The transfer was done to a POS account number,” Lawal told Saturday PUNCH. “But instead of sending N50,500, I unknowingly transferred N500,500 to the POS account.
“I did not receive any alert, and the POS operator also did not disclose that I had sent more than the required amount. When I later realised that I had paid N450,000 more than I was supposed to, I became distressed.”
Fortunately for Lawal, both a friend and his wife were present at the Bar Centre when he discovered the error.
“Folajuwon Banjo volunteered to represent me by helping to obtain an order for reversal. My account officer, Opeyemi Amole, also escalated the matter to the digital bank I paid into.
“Truthfully, I had lost hope of recovery after being informed that there was no money in the recipient’s account. But at about 11.am on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, I received an alert of N450,000, being a reversal of the money. It truly felt like a New Year’s gift,” he added.
Erroneous bank transfers
Mistaken bank transfers, often referred to as “wrong transfers” or “fat-finger errors”, are becoming an increasingly troubling feature of Nigeria’s rapidly digitising banking sector.
In many cases, recipients refuse to return funds, creating distress for senders and, in some instances, forcing legal intervention.
A report published by EdPlugNG in November 2025 revealed that nearly half of Nigerian banking users suffered financial loss due to interface-related errors within the previous 12 months.
This challenges the popular narrative that network failure is the sole culprit in Nigeria’s digital banking woes.
With the acceleration of the CBN’s cashless policy, transaction volumes through mobile apps and USSD platforms have surged.
However, while banks invest heavily in server capacity, far less attention appears to have been paid to human–computer interaction design.
The report, which analysed 12,000 social media support tickets, found that 42 per cent of respondents admitted to making at least one irreversible mistake, such as a wrong transfer or excessive airtime purchase, within the past year.
One in five users, representing 19 per cent, reported making minor errors, including clicking the wrong button or restarting failed transactions, on a weekly basis.
The study identified the “zero glitch” as the leading cause of financial loss, accounting for 34 per cent of reported cases. This typically involved users adding an extra zero, sending N100,000 instead of N10,000, often due to apps failing to auto-format figures with commas in real time.
Another 15 per cent of cases were classified as classic “fat-finger errors,” involving the selection of the wrong beneficiary from saved contact lists.
The report also identified a specific “fatigue window,” noting that such errors were three times more likely to occur between 9pm and 11pm.
“During late-night hours, users are often browsing in bed with low screen brightness and high fatigue. Combined with ‘ghost touching’ on budget Android devices and anxiety over unstable networks, users tend to tap ‘confirm’ aggressively without reviewing details, leading to costly mistakes,” the report stated.
A senior banker at a new-generation bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media, told Saturday PUNCH that banks sometimes mistakenly credit customers, often due to technological glitches during system upgrades or payment platform failures.
“These errors can occur when the wrong account number or amount is entered into the system. Software bugs can also cause funds to land in unintended accounts, whether dormant or active.
“In rare cases, such funds may even be linked to fraud. In all instances, recipients are required to contact their banks because reversals must follow strict regulatory procedures,” he explained.
Blocked by a recipient
When Farouq Bello (not his real name), a businessman, transferred N350,000 to one of his friends in urgent need of financial support for a project, he reclined in his chair with a sigh of relief.
But this changed when his friend called him back an hour later that evening of January 12 to inform him that he had not received any credit alert.
A knot of anxiety formed as Bello hurriedly reopened the banking app to recheck the transaction details. That was when the mistake stared back at him: the money had been sent to a wrong account, bearing the name Abiodun (surname withheld).
“Immediately, I reached out to him politely, explained that it was a mistake and asked him to refund the money,” Bello said. “Instead of doing the normal human thing and returning what was not his, this guy blocked me.”
He tried again, calling from another line, but that number was blocked as well. Growing increasingly desperate, Bello reached out to a friend, Yusuf, asking if there was any way to trace the recipient or persuade him to return the funds.
“We tried to gather everything we could, his phone number, his picture, any useful information at all. Later, another brother reached out to him and advised him to refund the money so he wouldn’t get himself into trouble. He didn’t respond either because he blocked him too,” Bello recounted.
One of Bello’s friends eventually managed to track Abiodun’s home address through his phone number, discovering that he resides in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Using yet another phone number, Yusuf finally got through to the recipient. What followed, Bello said, was a string of shifting explanations.
“He first claimed only N150,000 was left. Then he said his father was sick. Then another story came up. Long story short, he refunded just N50,000,” Bello said.
According to him, Abiodun promised to send the balance within “two or three days”, claiming that was all he could afford at the time. But weeks later, the promise remains unfulfilled.
Bello added that even after his friends shared Abiodun’s details on X and Facebook, appealing to the public to urge him to return the money, the outstanding N100,000 has yet to be refunded.
Further explaining the causes of such personal erroneous transfers, a finance analyst, Caleb Ohaeri, told Saturday PUNCH that most mistakes occur due to similarities in bank account numbers, missing digits, or confusion over names.
He said the first step for anyone who makes such an error is to immediately contact their bank’s customer care service and report the transaction as a mistake.
“For someone who receives money like this and does not voluntarily reach out to the sender to return it, I don’t think that alone constitutes a crime,” Ohaeri said.
“However, once a proper request is made and the recipient refuses to refund the money, a case can be opened, and it may be treated as fraud.”
He added that mistaken transfers are more common with mobile and digital banking apps, which often require only a phone number, unlike traditional banking systems.
“The sender should report the issue through the app, but there is no absolute guarantee of a refund. These platforms have built-in security prompts that ask users to confirm the recipient’s details. That is why people are advised to stay calm and double-check details before completing transfers,” he explained.
Directives and regulations from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission make it clear that money that unexpectedly appears in a bank account is not “free money” and may be linked to fraud or an erroneous transfer.
Yet, for some recipients, these rules appear to fall on deaf ears.
One such case is that of Kingsley Ojo, who unlawfully took possession of more than N1.3bn belonging to a bank.
According to the EFCC, the funds were mistakenly credited to Ojo’s account due to system glitches.
Investigations revealed that upon receiving the money, Ojo “transferred a good measure of it to the bank accounts of his mother, Itohan Ojo, and his sister, Edith Okoro Osaretin, and committed part of the money to the completion of his building project and the funding of a new flamboyant lifestyle.”
However, the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate recovered and returned N802.42m to the bank, while over N300m was reversed directly from Ojo’s account.
On Tuesday, Justice W. I. Aziegbemhin of the Edo State High Court, Benin City, convicted and sentenced Ojo to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of N5m. The court also ordered him to restitute First Bank Plc with N272,252,193.59 within a stipulated period.
EFCC arrests
Similarly, in October 2023, operatives of the Gombe Zonal Command of the EFCC arrested the managing director of an agricultural firm in Jos, Plateau State, Ibrahim Abubakar, over the alleged theft of more than N57m.
The sum was reportedly paid into Abubakar’s company account in error by a firm that intended to pay another organisation within the same bank.
According to a statement signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, after the bank alerted Abubakar to the mistaken credit, he allegedly transferred N5m each into his personal accounts in two different banks.
Attempts to withdraw the remaining funds led to his arrest and subsequent prosecution.
A year earlier, the EFCC arraigned a Nigerian Air Force officer, Haruna Samuel, for allegedly spending N20m inadvertently credited to his account.
The serving lance corporal at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna, was charged before the Kaduna State High Court on counts bordering on theft and criminal misappropriation.
The defendant, who denied the charge, allegedly committed the offence on December 3, 2020, after receiving the N20m said to have been erroneously transferred by his employer into his bank account.
Without expecting any payment of such magnitude from his employer, the EFCC alleged that Samuel failed to report the issue to his bank or employer and went ahead to withdraw part of the fund for personal use, including settling debts.
‘She spent our N800,000 on fabrics’
On May 2, 2025, an X user, Edith Okoli (@ii_kach), raised an alarm online after mistakenly transferring N800,000 to a wrong bank account through her banking app.
The registered nurse said she immediately reported the error at her bank, only to be told that it could take weeks before any recovery was possible.
Hoping for faster intervention, she proceeded to the new-generation bank used by the recipient, but was allegedly informed that “nothing could be done without a court order”.
“The receiver of the money has already started spending it, and the bank refused to release the receiver’s phone number so I could contact them. The money was contribution (ajo) funds,” Okoli said.
She recalled how her distraught mother went to the bank in tears, pleading with officials to place a lien on the recipient’s account pending a court order.
“The bank staff said nothing could be done. Customer care referred her back to my bank to send an email before the account could be placed on lien. She went back to the bank, met with the manager, and they promised to send an email to the receiver’s bank, but we couldn’t get a court order that Friday,” Okoli added.
Sharing a screenshot of the transaction, she identified the recipient as Nwakego (surname withheld), whom she said she was reliably informed had already moved the entire N800,000 into another account.
About two weeks later, Okoli shared an update, announcing that Nwakego had been arrested by the police.
According to her, she had been expecting N1m from someone on the same day the erroneous transfer occurred.
“Her brother deposited N300,000. Before her arrest, I had called her repeatedly to return my money. I pleaded with her and even sent text messages requesting the same. During one of our phone conversations, she threatened to sue me if I contacted her again,” Okoli said.me back and cover all the expenses I’ve made. Even after the police arrested her, she couldn’t pay anything. She had nothing on her,” Okoli added.
Widespread anger has erupted in Taraba State following reports that a housewife, Ramatu Abbas, mutilated the face of 17-year-old Iwasen Terhemba with a razor.
The attack was reportedly fueled by the woman’s suspicion that her husband was interested in the teenager.
The incident, which allegedly occurred in Donga town, Donga Local Government Area, has drawn heavy condemnation, with residents demanding justice.
Sources said the teenager, who lives with her guardian, Jemila Wanga, had been approached multiple times by Ramatu’s husband. She reportedly rejected his advances at every turn, insisting she was not interested.
However, acting on suspicion, the wife allegedly stormed the guardian’s residence while she was away and used a razor to disfigure the teenager’s face.
Confirming the incident, the Spokesman for the Taraba State Police Command, Victor Mshelizah, told journalists, “The issue is being taken care of already. The suspect is in custody while the victim is recovering. The case will soon be charged to court.”
Residents have called on the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served, emphasizing that a strong response is needed to deter similar acts in the future.
Hours after announcement, presidency withdraws Dakingari’s posting as Turkey ambassador-designate
The presidency has withdrawn the posting of Usman Dakingari, former Kebbi governor, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, barely 24 hours after announcing ambassadorial postings.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, issued a statement Thursday night confirming President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the posting of four ambassadors-designate out of the over 60 nominees confirmed last December.
Kayode Are, former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the United States.
Ayodele Oke, former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was posted to France; Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, was appointed high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; while Dakingari was made ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Dakingari’s appointment came ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.
But in a statement released Friday by the State House, Onanuga said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey.
The statement reiterated the postings of Are, Oke, and Dalhatu, and omitted Dakingari’s now-rescinded appointment.
The presidency did not give a reason for the change.
Onanuga said Tinubu has written a memo to the ministry of foreign affairs to notify the governments of the three countries about the ambassadors-designate, in accordance with diplomatic procedures.
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